Ruary's Rant
Scottish Country Dance Instruction
RUARY'S RANT (J8x32) 3C (4C set) Robyn Howes, 20241- 8 Mirror reels of 3 on sides (1s in/down, 2s out/up, 3s in/up to start)
9-16 1s lead down (3 steps), lead up (3 steps), cross and cast to 2nd place (2s step up 15-16)
17-24 1s dance Diagonal R&L (Man up, Lady down)
25-32 Ladies face up, Men face down and chase clockwise ½ round; 2s+1s+3s turn partner RH
Note: after 3rd, 5th and 7th times through, 4s dance up into reel as 1s step out/down to 4th place
(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)
Ruary's Rant 32 bar jig for 3 couples in a 4 couple set, Robyn Howes
1- 8 1st couple dance symmetric reels of 3 on the side with 2nd and 3rd couples.
1st couple dance in and down to begin, all couples touch hands as they meet in the reels.
9-16 1st couple lead down the middle for 3, lead up for 3, cross over and cast to 2nd place.
2nd couple move up on bars 15-16.
17-24 1st couple dance diagonal rights and lefts,
1L giving right hand to 3L, and 1M giving right hand to 2M to begin.
25-28 3,1 and 2 L face up, 3,1 and 2M face down, chase halfway around the set.
29-32 2's, 1's and 3's turn partner once round with the right hand.
Repeat from 2nd place.
(Dance crib compiled by the deviser, Robyn Howes, 2024)
Dance Notes
On the 3rd, 5th and 7th times through, 4th couple commence the reel by dancing up from 4th place as the 1st couple step out and down to 4th place.Dance Information
Ruary's Rant was devised on the occasion of Ruary Laidlaw's 80th birthday celebration held by the Lochiel Club (Hamilton, New Zealand) on 23 March 2024.Ruary taught at the Club from 1992 until 2016 and is still involved with teaching and actively participates in all Club activities. He was made a life member of the Club in 2011.
He has produced 2 teaching guides for Scottish Country Dancing and published several books of Scottish Country Dances. Many of the dances are named for local personalities or places of particular importance to Ruary. However, until now, no dances carry his name.
Ruary has a penchant for setting dances to unusual music, and the selected tune is a favourite of his.
Recommended music: Flights of Fancy from the album Celebrate Fifty Years of Dancing with the Boston Branch.
(Dance information by the deviser, Robyn Howes, 26 March 2024)

Ruary Laidlaw
Published in Ruary's Rant, reproduced here with the kind permission of the deviser, Robyn Howes via Ruary Laidlaw.
Image copyright Ruary Laidlaw, all rights reserved, reproduced here with kind permission, 2024.
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