Reel (dance)

Of Scottish origin, reels are also an important part of the repertoire of the fiddle traditions of Britain, Ireland and North America.

The earliest reference was in a trial of 1590, where the accused was reported to have "daunced this reill or short dance.

In the United States, reels remain central in the traditions of Anglo and African-American Old-time music and square dancing, as well as Cajun and Zydeco.

All reels consist largely of quaver (eighth note) movement with an accent on the first and third beats of the bar.

(An exception is the "auld reel" of Shetland which tends to irregular structure and may have been influenced by the Norwegian halling.)