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Issue 1 April—August 2016
“Dancing Forth” is published three times annually. The copy date for the next edition is 15th August 2016
contributions should be sent to: [email protected]
© T Rigg
SUMMER DANCE — SATURDAY 30th JULY (Page 5)
Nice’n’Easy Dance
Page 8
Spring Fling
Weekend
Page 2 & 9
Children’s Ball
Page 11
*** CLASSES PARTY—24 MAY—ALL WELCOME ***
SUMMER DANCE
Saturday 30th July
Matthew MacLennan and his
Scottish dance band
Join us in our new venue for
strawberries and cream
SEE PAGE 5
Spring Fling
Cover photo: Jamie and Imogen enjoy dancing at the Spring Fling workshop. Jamie says he “had lots of fun and enjoyed it...but not as much as the ball”!
Alex Dyet & Patricia Brignall enjoy our
Old Favourites dance
Bob Grant’s cool down… perhaps inspired by his foreign travels!
© Mike Greenwood/RSCDS
The Musicians line up at the Spring Fling Ball, with MC Faye Mather
Full report
Page 9
Angela Young expertly led our Children’s Workshop
The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society (Edinburgh Branch) is
a charity registered in Scotland No SC016958, also known as
RSCDS Edinburgh. Promoting the fun, fitness and friendship of
Scottish country dancing since 1924.
Honorary President: The Rt Hon. Donald W ilson, Lord
Provost of the City of Edinburgh
Honorary Vice Presidents:
The Duke of Buccleuch KBE, Mrs Vera Davidson,
Norman Irons, Miss Dorothy Leurs and Robbie Shepherd
Chairman: David W atson - [email protected]
Secretary: [email protected]; 07041 323155
Treasurer: Elizabeth Harry - [email protected]
Demonstrations Coordinator: Brian G Harry -
Committee members (dates of retiral):
Rena Mulholland (2016), Susan Ross (2017) and Ian Auld (2018)
Non-executive roles
Dancing Forth Editor: [email protected]
Webmaster: John Watkins - [email protected]
Youth coordinator: Grant [email protected]
Child protection coordinators: Margo Priestley/Brian G Harry
Branch Information
Website: www.rscdsedinburgh.org Youtube: www.youtube.com/RSCDSEdinburgh Facebook: www.facebook.com/RSCDSEdinburgh Twitter: @dancingforth
Please inform us if you have moved or if any of your contact details have changed
RSCDS Edinburgh does not accept any liability for goods and services advertised within our pages
Pictures are taken at Branch events and may be used for publicity purposes
Please contact us if you are a Life member and need a membership card to ensure your Dancewear discount
From the Chairman 3
We are nearly at the end of the teaching session and soon it
will be time for our AGM.
This has been a busy year with lots to do, especially as we
have such a small committee, but I am pleased to report that
many dancers have assisted at our functions and helped to
spread the load.
A big thank you to all the dancers who lent a hand.
This year from 15th—17th April the RSCDS Spring Fling was
held in Edinburgh and we combined our Old Favourites
dance and Spring Workshop with this event. We also hosted
a Children’s Workshop and Musicians Workshop.
Unfortunately the weekend chosen, by RSCDS HQ, for
Spring Fling coincided with other local Branches functions,
and the Edinburgh holiday weekend, so attendance could
have been better but the Children’s and Musicians Work-
shops were very well attended and successful.
Following an initiative from RSCDS Youth Services
Committee to hold a Global Youth Week we focussed on
getting primary school children dancing and I am pleased to
note that nearly 1000 local children have been put through
their paces. We hope that this may lead to greater co-
operation with local schools and more children enjoying
Scottish Country Dancing. They are our future.
Our Annual Ball will be held in Greyfriars Kirk on 15th May
and I am pleased to report that this event is sold out. This
year we take the opportunity to celebrate the Queens 90th
Birthday and dances on the programme have some Royal
connection. This should be a very enjoyable evening.
The AGM notice will sent out soon. This is your chance to
make yourself heard and influence the Branch. We have a
very small committee and would welcome nominations for
election to this committee. With a larger team, the work can
be shared and, the burden reduced. Please do your best to
attend and make this a meeting that represents the majority
of our members.
David
David Watson, Chairman
Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter
Our Social Media presence continues to grow with over 750
Facebook followers and nearly 300 on Twitter.
Whether it is an update on what’s happening now, something
special, our regular trip down memory lane when we dip into the
archive for #ThrowBackThursday or perhaps something more
energetic on #MotivationMonday we hope that there is something
for everyone and that it shows all aspects of life in Edinburgh
Branch.
Check it out for yourself via the feed directly from our website.
Many Happy Returns to Robbie Shepherd, our Honorary
Vice-President, who celebrated his 80th Birthday recently.
We are truly honoured for all the support which Robbie has
given to Scottish country dancing, the Royal Scottish
Country Dance Society and, in particular, Edinburgh Branch
over many years.
From Headquarters
It’s been a busy few months since the Annual General Meeting with lots happening both behind the scenes and highly visible to both our members and the general public.
Global Youth Week was a new initiative in January, to encourage younger people to dance. Branches throughout the UK and Europe took part with various different activities (page 9). It is hoped this will become an annual event each year. Additionally, there will be a Global event for all at a suitable time of the year where we can all Dance Scottish together around the world.
The Ceilidh at Celtic Connections was a great success with an audience largely of young people who were not linked to the RSCDS – hopefully we gave them a positive impression.
Spring Fling returned to Edinburgh and young dancers from near and far had a fantastic weekend of dance. Next year, Spring Fling moves on to Bonn.
Ten dancers, representing the RSCDS, will be attending the Patron’s Lunch as part of the Queen’s 90th Birthday celebrations in London during June.
Work on the Business Plan continues and I am part of a small group who will be developing this based on the Strategic Aims discussed at the AGM last year. Every Branch will be contacted for input so that the aim to grow a vibrant worldwide community of Scottish Dance and Music belongs to all of us. If you wish more information on this process then I’d be happy to discuss this further.
Going forward, plans include developing and publishing videos for all RSCDS dances, along with the steps and formations. Additionally, we intend to undertake a pilot with Primary Schools and Pudsey Bear helping to raise money for Children in Need later this year.
Medal Tests for Young Dancers remain popular and we need to expand the number of Medal Test Assessors we have generally, but especially in England. There will be a training course run on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th May 2016 in Bexleyheath on the outskirts of London. If you are a qualified RSCDS teacher, who may be interested in under-taking this training, you can find more information and an application form on the RSCDS website.
Book 50, and the accompanying CD will be available this summer. Once again, there will be video of the dances avail-able and also a choice of a paper or a downloadable eCopy.
Lastly, Winter School will be returning to Pitlochry over a weekend from Thursday 23rd to Tuesday 28th February 2017.
If you would like any more detail of any aspect of the Management Board then please don’t hesitate to contact me directly. Elizabeth Harry
Management Board Member
Our Demonstration team are delighted to be representing Scotland at the Jornades Internacionals Folklòriques de Catalunya in September. We'll be bringing you more news about our travels later in the year. The team hope to have filmed all the dances for our 90th Anniversary book as soon as we can get a slot available for filming in the City Chambers. These dances will then be released via You Tube as a free resource. In the meantime, we’ve been keeping busy hosting lots of ceilidh events throughout the city for the many tourists that visit Edinburgh. This gives them a reel experience of Scottish dancing. A recent highlight was a last minute class which we organised jointly with RSCDS HQ for Maria Grunweld. Maria is a presenter of Euromax, a German cultural and lifestyle show, and she wanted to be filmed dancing at the Spring Fling Ball. Stewart Adam and some of our Demonstration Group gave Maria a lesson on the Saturday morning to make sure she was well prepared to dance Flowers of Edinburgh and The Frisky (see page 12). Special thanks goes to Dancewear of Edinburgh who supplied Maria with her Princess Pumps. Come and watch us dance in Princes Street Gardens on Monday 6th June when the team will be demonstrating the dances. Hopefully the sun will be shining. If you would like to know more about our team, whether it’s as a dancer or you would like us to dance at your event then please get in touch.
Brian G Harry 07908 865291 [email protected]
Demonstration News 4
One of the country’s leading sports injury centres
Centre for Sport and Exercise
The University of Edinburgh
46 Pleasance
Edinburgh EH8 8TL
0131 650 2578
For all sports related injuries, including Scottish country dancing. Facilities open to all members of RSCDS Edinburgh Branch at reduced rates.
Spanish students have fun learning some Ceilidh dances.
Brian Harry and Gary Donaldson keep these Spanish students on their toes
Come and dance with us 5 Strawberries and Cream Summer Dance
Saturday 30th July 7.30—10.30pm
Lauriston Hall, Lauriston Street, Edinburgh, EH3 9DQ
Dancing to Matthew Maclennan and his Scottish Dance
Band
Tickets £8 / £10 (RSCDS Members / Non-Members)
This dance is suitable for all with
lots of popular easy dances.
Advance Notice—Christmas Dance
This is always a great evening. Save the date and join us on
Saturday 10th December 7.30pm, Lauriston Hall, Edinburgh
Dancing to Marian Anderson and her Scottish Dance band
Want to know more about any of our events?
Check out our website—www.rscdsedinburgh.org
Annual Ball 2016
Our Annual Ball is fully sold out and we have a waiting list
for returned tickets. Please let us know if you would like to
be added to this list or equally if you have a spare ticket.
If you missed out this year, application forms for our Ball in
2017 will be available on 4th November. Watch out for them
online and at our classes and pencil this date into your diary
now!
Saturday 13th May 2017 Greyfriars Kirk
dancing to Gary Donaldson and his band
Can you help?
Our “night” at Princes Street Gar-
dens is on Monday 6th June.
As part of this, our demonstration
team will be dancing and we also
need members to act as Stewards
from 7.30—9.30 pm.
If you can help, please contact Brian
Harry:
07908 865281
Branch Annual General Meeting
Our AGM will take place on Wednesday
22nd June, at the Quaker Meeting
House,
7 Victoria Street, Edinburgh, EH1 2JL
We hope that lots of our members will attend.
SUMMER CLASSES PARTY
Tuesday 24th May, 8,00pm
Upper Hall, Cluny Centre, Cluny Drive
Dancing to Seonaid Lynn & Roddy Johnston
All welcome—£5 at the door
J St Andrew's Fair 5/82
R The Reel of the Royal Scots L
S Wisp of Thistle 37
J The Luckenbooth Brooch Dickson
R The Westminster Reel 45
S The Byron Strathspey Drewry
J Joie de Vivre 39
R Summer Assembly 35
J Tribute to the Borders L
R Peat Fire Flame Drewry
S The Water of Leith Ed 90th
J The Chequered Court 42
R Maxwell's Rant 18
S Cherrybank Gardens Drewry
J Pelorous Jack 41
R The Irish Rover Cosh
Book 50 will be hitting the Branch shop soon!
Ensure you get one of the early copies by pre-
ordering now and we will hopefully have it
available for collection at the Summer dance.
We’ve lots of other bargains in the Branch
shop so contact us and we will see if we can
find one for you—[email protected]
Dancers Diary 6
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Come and Buy
Our 90th Anniversary Book and CD is still available to purchase.
The book contains 12 new dances written by Branch members and friends and most of the
dances have had new tunes written especially for them by some of our Branch musicians.
This collection of dances, in celebration of our 90th Anniversary, is a fine testament to the
composing, arranging and devising talent that exists within the Branch, its members and
friends.
The twelve very different dances come together to produce a book with something for every
dancer - from traditional to modern, simple to complex and longwise to square and even
triangular.
The accompanying CD, recorded by Graeme Munro and his Band, is a delight to listen to and really lifts the words off the
page and onto the dance floor.
Contact us for more information: [email protected]
It’s quiz time! 7 How well do you know your Branch? Stew art Adam has been dipping into the archive and has devised a
short quiz to test your memory, or if you are a newer member to give you a taste of the past.
1) The earliest records that can be found are 1932. Was the membership?
a) Less than 100
b) 100 – 200
c) 0ver 200
2) What were the members getting for their subscription?
How many classes were being held per week in 1935?
a) Less than 5
b) Between 5 and 10
c) More than 10
3) The members would have paid 5/- a year which is equivalent to £7.26 today. Eighteen years later in 1950 the membership
was?
a) Less than 500
b) Between 500 – 1000
c) Between 1000 – 1500
d) Over 1500
4) How many people turned up for the demonstration team audition in 1950?
5) Why could the demonstration team not use the changing facilities in Princes Street Gardens in June 1952?
6) In the following year what was the problem in Holyrood Park?
7) How many dancers were in the mass demonstration at Murrayfield for the Queen 1953?
8) How many dancers attended the Ladies Ball in 1953?
Are you looking to have a clear out?
We are always looking to expand our archive and will happily take any memorabilia related to Edinburgh Branch
to help us build on what we already have.
This might be minutes of Branch meetings, photographs of functions or the Demonstration team, tickets to
events or anything which you think might be on interest both now and in the future. We’d especially like to fill
in some of the gaps in the 1970s.
Get in contact with us and we’ll happily collect anything. Let us know if you want the item back, and if not we’ll
keep it for posterity or dispose of it for you if it’s something we have already.
[email protected] 07041 323155
Log on to the Members area of our website and view
this magazine and past issues in full colour See page 10 for the answers
What’s been happening in Edinburgh… 8
Want to advertise in Dancing Forth—contact us at [email protected]
Summer dancing
Arrangements are now underway for our summer dance evenings. This is a chance for you to continue with some dancing when all the classes and clubs have stopped. We welcome dancers from beginners to advanced level and there is always someone on hand to help. All our venues offer live music.
Perhaps you have seen the vans and workmen at the Ross Bandstand and are wonder-ing what is happening. Well, at long last we are going to have a new floor for this summer. This is great news and I hope this will encourage some people who had given up dancing due to the state of the floor to come back and give it a try.
The dates for the Ross Bandstand are Mondays 30 May until 25 July (weather permitting) when we have a demonstration team to show us how the dances should be done then everyone is invited to get up and give it a try. The indoor dates are Tuesday 31 May to 26 July at Thomas Morton Hall where we have an experienced MC who calls the dances and dancers are able to have a quick
walk through. We also have indoor nights in August. All evenings begin at 7.30 pm – 9.30pm and the admission price is the same at all venues - £4.00 for Adults and £1 for
Children. Programmes and crib sheets are on our website www.PrincesStreetGardensDancing.org.uk If you’ve not joined us before please come along and give it a try. Margaret Burns, Chairperson, Gardens Scottish Country Dancers
Our Nice’n’Easy dance is a great introduction to the dance floor and fun for all w hether you ’ve only been
dancing a few weeks or have years of experience.
The programme is exactly what it says on the tin… and there are always plenty of dancers willing to help with a friendly (and
hopefully) gentle push in the right direction.
Our Beginners and Improvers Teachers make sure the dancers in these classes are well prepared in advance and get pleasure
and satisfaction from watching these dancers take to the floor.
More recently, our Children’s class have been providing us with entertainment. Some of the children dancing this year are
only 5 and 6, yet they showed no nerves as they precisely executed A Reel for Jeannie. It was then the turn of the older group
who showed us exactly how to dance Wind on Loch Fyne and Inverneill House. Thanks to Ruby Wilkinson for all her patience
with the children, and also to Linda Watson who helps out every week. A new recruit to the team is Alastair Wood who
occasionally plays for the class to make sure the children regularly get the opportunity to dance to live music.
Finally it was time for supper, and thanks to Barbara and David Ross we had piping hot haggis, neaps and tatties to give us
energy for the second half of the programme. Photos of this event are on Page 12.
What’s a MOOC?
Sit less, Get Active is a massive online course, MOOC, which is
currently being developed by the University of Edinburgh. As
the title suggests, the purpose of the course is to encourage
sitting less and being more active and they are very keen to
promote dancing, in particular Scottish country dancing as a
great way of doing this.
We were asked to be part of this, with a request being made to
film one of our classes and interview some of the dancers on
the benefits they get from dancing, whether that be social,
physical, emotional or mental health.
The General class was chosen as there is good attendance every
week and filming was arranged for 9th Feb. The University
filmed our usual class,; we had a full attendance that night as
everyone turned up to support this and danced their very best.
Several of the class were interviewed at the end and gave their views on why they dance and what they get out of it.
The University considered the filming a great success and a video of the evening will be published in mid May, which will be
available on our website and social media channels. Hopefully, this will result in new dancers joining us for the Autumn term
in September.
Susan Ross
9
Thank you to the many members who contribute to
make each edition of Dancing Forth possible.
Global Youth Week w as a new initiative tr ialled by RSCDS HQ and as part of this we offered all Primary Schools in Edinburgh the opportunity to have a FREE taster session.
South Morningside, Broomhouse, Ferryhill and St Mary’s RC Primary Schools all took advantage of this offer. Over 800 children have been involved in 31 sessions, and every child can dance the Flying Scotsman and one other dance (sometimes made up on the day!).
Feedback has been really positive and we hope to make this a regular event.
“We absolutely loved the workshops you provided. The children had a great time. Thanks also for the pencils and the tips for teachers! We’d love to do it again.” St Mary’s Primary School.
Spring Fling w as a w eekend of dance in Edinburgh for young dancers. We held a variety of fringe events as part of this so that whatever your age there was an opportunity to dance in Edinburgh that weekend. Friday evening was our regular Old Favourites dance. We missed our friends from East Lothian who were at their weekend in Pitlochry however we had a great time dancing to James Coutts and his band. Margo Priestley and Stewart Adam were our MCs for the evening and created a party atmosphere as we all danced some of our best loved dances. Saturday morning saw everyone head to the various work-shops. Our children were joined by fellow young dancers from RSCDS Dunfermline. Angela Young and Graham Berry put them through their paces and they all enjoyed meeting other dancers and learning new dances. The adults were challenged by Bob Grant and Doreen McKerron, the atmosphere was warm and friendly despite the lack of electricity! Musicians from across Scotland and as far afield as Lyon joined Gary Donaldson and Pete Clark for a day of intense concentration as they focussed on delivering a programme of dances to play that evening at the Spring Fling Ball. The dancers at the ball all enjoyed the 11 piece band, and all the musicians agreed that these workshops, which include the opportunity to play for a dance with established SCD musicians, are a great way to encourage and develop more people to play for dancing. Many thanks to everyone who helped us over the weekend.
With grateful thanks to our many sponsors for
their ongoing invaluable support.
Local Groups 10
The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society
12 Coates Crescent, Edinburgh, EH3 7AF
Tel: 0131 225 3854 Fax: 0131 225 7783
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.rscds.org—see here for details of local branches in the Lothians and Fife
Atholl SCD Club
Secretary: David Ballantyne—
Venue: Inverleith Church Hall, Ferry Road, EH3 5PR
Dates: Tuesdays until 24th May 2016
Time: 7.30pm
Music: Iain MacPhail
Cost: Members £4. Visitors very welcome £6
Only new and difficult dances are called, but the programmes are available via the Branch website
Dunedin Dancers
Meet most Wednesdays , from 7.30—9.30pm, in
Morningside Parish Church Hall, Cluny Gardens, for
Scottish country dancing in a relaxed atmosphere. New dancers are always
welcome.
Dates are on our website: www.dunedindancers.org.uk
For additional information, email the secretary at
[email protected] of ring 07966 881630.
Dunedin Dancers run a bi-annual Folk Dance Festival, to which we invite
various foreign dance groups, and regularly visit festivals abroad.
Gay Gordons Edinburgh
The Gay Gordons, Edinburgh’s LGBT SCD Group, welcomes all dancers to our friendly sessions.
Mondays 7.30pm. See our website for info.
Contact : [email protected]
Website: www.gaygordonsedinburgh.co.uk
We also attend other events with groups in London, Manchester and
Dumfries. Open to all regardless of experience.
Trinity SCD Club
A warm welcome is assured at this social country dancing club for adults
which meets (usually) on two Saturdays per month from September to
May.
Regular dances are held in the Edinburgh Academy Junior School,
10 Arboretum Road, Edinburgh, EH3 5PL and all dances are recapped.
All dancers are encouraged to join as members which gives the benefit of a
reduced admission charge.
More information is on our website: www.trinityscdc.eu
or contact Joan Tyler, Secretary 01506 433520
Our Autumn edition will have full details of clubs and groups in Edinburgh. Meantime, check out our website if you want more info
Edinburgh Ladies’ Club
President: Christina France 0131 664 8467
Secretary: Anne Hackland 0131 441 5108
Dates: Wednesdays, September—March
Currie SCD Club
Chairman: Sylvia Dalgleash 0131 449 6262
Venue: St Margaret’s, 525 Lanark Road, EH14 5DG
Dates: Wednesdays, September—April
Morningside Club
Secretary: Sandra Shaw 0131 440 1558
Venue: Upper Hall, Cluny Centre, Cluny Drive, EH10 6DN
Dates: Monday evenings October to March
Time: 7.40—9.40pm
Music: Calum Marwick
Cost: £50 per session or £30 per term (tbc)
Visitors: £5 per evening and £6 for parties (tbc)
New members & visitors always welcome.
www.morningsidescdclub.com
Quiz Answers:
1) 160
2) 5 per week
3) 1,400
4) 276, which was reduced to a 100, and finally 60 were selected.
5) The marquee was being used by the chimpanzees which preceded our part of the programme and consequently the team were unable (perhaps unwilling!) to use it. 6) The team danced beautifully but no light was provided for the platform and the dancers finished in near darkness. 7) This was the major activity and must have been the biggest demonstration of Scottish country dancing ever put on by the Society. We invited other Branches to join us and altogether 592 dancers from 22 Branches danced before Her Majesty The
Queen. 8) 240, with a waiting list of 63!
Youth 11
Looking for new shoes?
Branch members qualify for a 10% discount in Dancewear
on production of your membership card.
Our Children’s class have had a busy term. They’ve demonstrated their best dancing at the
Nice’n’Easy dance, been filmed for Edinburgh University as part of the Get Active MOOC (see
page 8), been to the Children’s Ball and took part in the Children’s Fringe Workshop at Spring
Fling. Each week they compete for the Dorothy Auld Memorial Trophy and are pleased to share
their latest Scroll of Honour with you.
We’ve had new children join the class; there is still space for a few more. If you know anyone
with Primary School children who would like to join the class, then please get in touch.
Our inaugural Teenage workshop took place in February. Competing against the Scotland v.
France match at Murrayfield was probably not the best idea, however we hope to have another
workshop in May/June - details will be on our website and social media pages as soon as they
are available.
Kirsten Smith
Emma Crawford
Calum Wignall
Imogen Ellis
Kirsten Smith
Jamie Crawford
Ingrid Ellis
Rory Smith
Kirsten Smith
Calum Wignall
Above: Children’s Ball © Grant Bulloch Photography
Below: Our youngest dancers at the Nice’n’Easy dance
Children who were awarded the
trophy between January and March
A selection of photographs from recent events
© G Bulloch
© RSCDS Edinburgh
© E Harry
© E Harry
Grant Bulloch, Yoshi Shibasaki, Moira Reekie, Martin Adam, Eilidh Burgess, Stewart Adam & Theresa MacVarish all helped Maria Grunwald learn Scottish
country dancing for a German TV programme (Page 4).
© Grant Bulloch Photography © Grant Bulloch Photography © Grant Bulloch Photography
Special thanks to Dancewear of Edinburgh
who supplied Maria with her Princess Pumps.
L to R: Graeme Munro, Alastair Wood
& Shauna Flockhart
L to R: Ailsa Smith, Ingrid Ellis, Amy Wignall,
Clara Palarea-Chillon, Kirsten Smith and Arwin Ellis
Above and right: Burns Nice’n’Easy Dance
R: Many hands make light work!
Below: Joan Tyler and Martin Adam enjoy dancing at the
Joint Lothian’s dance
Below: Elizabeth Allan and Harry Andrews help out with new publicity
photos for the Very Advanced class
