The Robertson Rant

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

THE ROBERTSON RANT (S80) Sq.Set D Winchester RSCDS Bk 39

1- 8 All circle 8H round and back
9-16 All Ladies dance RH across ½ way and turn opposite Man LH, all Ladies dance ½ RH across and turn partner LH
17-24 1s+3s dance reel of 4 (Ladies start by passing LSh as Men set)
25-32 All set (HS) to corners, turn 2H twice
33-40 2s+4s dance reel of 4 with Ladies starting by passing LSh
41-48 All set (HS) to corners, turn 2H twice
49-56 All Ladies circle left to face partners (Ladies BtoB), set to and turn partners 2H
57-64 All Men circle right to face partners (Men BtoB), set to and turn partners 2H
65-72 All dance Grand Chain
73-80 All Allemande anticlockwise

(MINICRIB, Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton. Deeside Caledonian Society.)

The Robertson Rant
D Winchester   RSCDS Book 39
Strathspey   80 bars   4 Couple Repeat   4 Couple Set   Square Set

1-8      All 8 hands round and back;
9-16    interlocking ladies' chains:
9-10    Ls right hands across halfway (WHILE Mn cast pulling left shoulder back to partners' places);
11-12  all turn opposite by the left;
13-14  Ls right hands across halfway (WHILE Mn continue to cast pulling left shoulder back);
15-16  all turn partners by the left;
17-24  1s3s reel of 4 (1L 3L pass left shoulder to start);
25-28  all set (Highland Schottische) to corners;
29-32  all turn corners with both hands twice;
33-48  repeat bars 17-32 (2s4s reeling);
49-52  Ls 4 hands round to the left;
53-56  all set to partners and turn both hands;
57-60  Mn 4 hands round to the right;
61-64  all set to partners and turn both hands;
65-72  all grand chain;
73-79  all allemande round the set (anticlockwise) finishing facing in;
80-80  all unwind the allemande hold (as in bar 6 of allemande for 2 couples) so that Ls finish back to back in the centre facing out, Mn facing in but retain right hand hold.

(MAXICRIB, Scottish country dancing instructions compiled by Reuben Freemantle.)

Dance Notes

10       Ls finish facing out in opposite M's place.
14       Ls finish facing out in partner's place.
17-18  1M 3M start the reel by setting at the ends WHILE 1L3L advance and pass by the left.
25-28  Mn raise one arm in Highland Schottische setting (left arm while hopping on left foot, right with right) and place other hand on hip.
52       Ls finish facing out to partners.
56       Ls finish in places.
60       Mn finish facing out to partners.
64       All finish in places.
80       Retain hold for the acknowledgement on the final chord; if part of a demo sequence, after acknowledging partners, turn ¾ by the right to finish in places.

Dance Instruction Videos

The Robertson Rant - YouTube Scottish Country Dancing Instruction Video
Performance of The Robertson Rant by Westchester RSCDS June 2009.

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