Robert The Bruce

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1- 8 All clap (2 bars, 4 claps), all clap hands with partner (2 bars), all clap hands with neighbour (2 bars), all stamp 1 foot (2 bars, 4 stamps)
9-16 1s cast to 4th place as 2s+3s+4s turn RH moving up 1 place, all turn LH
17-24 1s followed by 4s, 3s and 2s march or dance down middle and back to places
25-32 All circle 8H round and back

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

1 - 8 All four couples clap hands for the first two bars: 1, 2, 3 and 4.
All four couples clap hands with partner for two bars: 1, 2, 3 and 4.
All four couples clap hands with the person beside them sideways for two bars: 1, 2, 3 and 4. i.e. left hand sideway with the person on their left, and right hand sideways with the person on their right.
All four couples stamp one foot for two bars: 1, 2, 3 and 4.
9-12 The first couple cast off to the bottom of their set for eight skips...
While the other three couples take a shake right hands grip with their partner and turn them round for eight skips finishing one place up the set.
13-16 Each couple then changes to a left hand shake with their partner and turns them the other way for eight skips to finish on the side of the set where they started, facing up to the music.
17-24 Everybody turns and faces down the set in their lines i.e. away from the music.
Altogether they march or skip eight steps down the middle of the set away from the music beside their partner. Then they all turn round towards their partner on the eighth step and face back up in their lines i.e. towards the music and march or skip eight steps back beside their partner to finish back where they started.
25-32 All four couples skip or slip step an eight hands circle, round and back, ready to start again.

Repeat three more times.

(Dance crib compiled by the deviser, Ruary Laidlaw)

Dance Notes

(Dance notes by the deviser, Ruary Laidlaw)

Dance Information

The four dances in the Clapyerhands 'n Stampyerfeet collection are designed for school children with no prior dance experience. The steps involve simple walking or plain skipping, and the formations are intuitive. Each dance is accompanied by music on a CD, arranged and performed by "Peter Elmes and His Band."

(Dance information by the deviser Ruary Laidlaw, copyright, All rights reserved)

Born in 1274, he played a pivotal role in the First War of Scottish Independence against English rule. Following the death of William Wallace, Robert the Bruce emerged as a prominent leader and eventually claimed the Scottish throne in 1306.

His reign was marked by military campaigns against the English forces, and the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 is a significant victory for the Scots under his leadership. The Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton in 1328 recognized Scotland as an independent kingdom, securing its autonomy from English control. Robert the Bruce's efforts were instrumental in establishing the foundation for Scottish sovereignty, and his leadership is commemorated in Scottish history and folklore.

Bust Of Robert The Bruce - Wallace Monument, Stirling, Scotland

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