MUSKRAT RAMBLE

A dance by Jerry and Charlie Tuffield of Denver, Colorado.

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Record: LS X-96, 236-45

Position: Open with inside hands joined, opposite footwork
throughout, directions for man.

Measures
     1-2 WALK, WALK; STEP-CLOSE, TURN-SWING
     Walk fwd two steps (L, R); then two-step fwd, pivoting
     half RF turn on second step, swinging R fwd in RLOD
     (woman turns L).
     3-4 WALK, WALK; STEP-CLOSE, STEP-TOUCH
     Repeat meas 1, moving RLOD (R, L); then two-step,
     pivoting quarter turn to face partner, touch L ending with
     man's back to COH.
     5-8 STEP, POINT; STEP, POINT; TWO-STEP; TWO-STEP
     Step bwd on L, point R bwd (woman fwd R, point L fwd);
     man steps fwd R, point L fwd; then two turning two-steps
     almost full around, ending closed pos, man facing LOD.
     9-12 STEP, POINT; STEP, POINT; TWO-STEP; TWO-STEP
     Step fwd on L, point R fwd; step bwd on R, point L bwd;
     two fwd two-steps ending in open pos, inside hands joined.
          13-16     TWO-STEP; TWO-STEP; TURN; AWAY
     Two two-steps fwd beginning man's L; turn away from
     each other 4 walking steps, L, R, L, R (man turning to L,
     woman to R), ending in semi-closed pos facing LOD.
          17-18     WALK, WALK; POINT FWD, STEP BACK
     Walk two steps fwd, L, R; point L fwd, step back on L.
     (Point fwd abt 10 inches in front, then step back, not beside
      R, but about 10 inches behind R)
          19-20     WALK, WALK; POINT BACK, STEP FWD
     Walk bwd two steps, R, L; point R back, step fwd R. End
     in closed pos.
          21-24     TWO-STEP; TWO-STEP; TWIRL; TWIRL
     Two turning two-steps, turning once to R; then as man
     takes 4 steps LOD, L, R, L, R, woman twirls under her own
     R and man's L arm, doing two complete turns in 4 steps.
          25-26     Repeat meas 17-18.
          27-28     Repeat meas 19-20.
          29-32     Repeat meas 21-24.

Maneuver into starting pos and repeat the dance 3 times. At the
finish of the dance, end with a bow.

Measures 17-20 and 25-28 can be danced with a Charleston style,
and a decided Charleston kick-up is preferred. In fact, this whole
dance is tremendously loved by those who once danced the
"Charleston." Try to get into the mood by holding the seat back
and the knees well forward on meas 17-20 and 25-28. Keep the
knees almost locked together, toe-in a little and brush with the ball
of the foot as you fling the heels outward in characteristic
Charleston abandon. Real "Charleston experts" will cut loose a
little on a few other measures as well.