THE ROBERTSON RANT


This dance has two highland step patterns, and this page is designed to help yout think through those.
HIGHLAND SCHOTTISCH SETTING

FIRST the feet...........1 and 2.........THEN the arms.......3
For the first four hops MEN have one arm raised (second position); for the travel use first position (on the waist.

TRAVELLING STEP (MEN)

This is unlike the normal strathspey travelling step in that it is a spikey halting step
and, for the men, strenuous because of the raised arms. It fits one bar of music.
FIRST the feet...........
try this with your arms at the waist.
You start with LF on the ground and RF raised in front of the supporting leg as in the 4th hop of the setting step above. Then....
COUNT 1 = step forward on to the RF
COUNT 2 = close LF to rear of RF AND extend the RF forward, slightly raised off the floor (as in coupe pas de basque)
COUNT 3 = hop forward onto the RF ("spring") bringing the LF to the rear schottisch position
COUNT 4 = hop on RF bringing the LF round to the front close to the leg. You do not travel forward on this count.

You can now repeat with the LF leading.
At first concentrate on the feet and the springs, don't worry about how far you go. AND, get the rythm.

THINK.......step - spring - spring - hop.

NOW the arms...............
Both arms are raised (for the men) so you could get used to that physical effort first - remember UPRIGHT STANCE !

FINALLY, you need to rotate your body as the step progresses.

COUNT 1 AND 2 your body is at 45 degree to the line of travel, R arm leading
COUNT 3 you rotate to put the body straight ahead,
COUNT 4 rotate to the L arm leading.