Letters to the Editor

Any opinions expressed in the letters below are personal to the writers and do not reflect the views of the RSCDS or the Management Board.

Walk-throughs

While reading Rod Morrison’s letter in the October issue (29), I recalled an evening when the programme included John of Bon Accord. After a well-presented recap, the person next to me turned and said, ‘I didn’t understand a word of that’. Yet another example of someone joining a set for a dance which is completely unknown to them. This is one of the unfortunate consequences of recaps which, I have to accept, are here to stay. I now detect a trend towards walking through every dance on a programme which is likely to mean that some people are even less inclined to familiarise themselves with the dances beforehand. The essence of Scottish country dancing (at least in the RSCDS style) lies in the way in which we display individual ability while engaging with others, leading to the fluid movements and social courtesies which make it so enjoyable. Much of the exhilaration will be lost if every dance is first walked through and the dance itself lacks the refinement which comes from familiarity. Some readers may think that my expectations are no longer realistic as SCD has evolved and broadened its appeal, but we should still endeavour to maintain the standards on which it is founded. Walk-throughs sometimes have a part to play, particularly at dances aimed at helping the less experienced to gain in confidence, but I am simply suggesting that as a general rule we should discourage a practice which diminishes a Scottish country dance as a social occasion. Andy Patterson, Rotorua, New Zealand

Is the price right?

The recent letter from Roger Brooks ‘Is the price right?’ asked the question, ‘Are we selling ourselves too cheaply?’ Invariably, I would venture to say the answer is almost always a resounding YES. Regardless how thrifty a local SCD crowd may be, one does work on the assumption that people are happy to pay for a quality or premier event. Hall hire, musicians and catering are not cheap, but when done well, lead to a very enjoyable and memorable event. I have heard many incidences of complaints from dancers that there is talk of a Ball ticket increasing by $5 after the price has stayed the same for five years. Then in the same breath people complain that the quality of catering has not been very good for the last few years. To put it simply, one gets what one pays for. There are always ways of ensuring the best bang for the dollar/ pound or euro but they can only be stretched so far. Price increases are inevitable, but when managed well, they should be respected as part of an organiser’s efforts to bring to the SCD community an opportunity to enjoy their dancing. If an organisation wishes to maintain a certain charge for an event, for whatever reason they deem fit, which may mean the event just breaks even or makes a small loss, then the long game needs to be considered. Subsidising the event is an option through fundraising, sponsorship or dedicated ‘money-making events’. A public ceilidh or Scottish theme dance event can be used to bring in funds from the non-core SCD world and can be budgeted towards the less ‘thrifty’ who do not mind paying a reasonable amount for a fun night out. These funds can then be used to support core SCD events. I know of many people in the SCD community who work extremely hard to keep events active and running on a shoe-string budget. If one way that we can help them and thank them for their hard work is to cheerfully accept a reasonable increase in an admission price, then I do not feel that is asking too much of us. Michael Darby, International Branch

Lack of nominations

The April 2019 edition of Scottish Country Dancer confirmed that management elections at the 2018 AGM produced a fully recruited Management Board and Management Committees. The same page of the magazine listed vacancies and appointments in 2019, together with details of how to apply. Management Board (4) Education and Training (4) Membership Services (3) Youth Services (3) Astonishingly, under the heading Elections to Management Posts in the October 2019 magazine, no nominations were received to fill the four Management Board or the three Membership Services vacancies. The Management Board, the Society’s main policy and planning committee, will be reduced from 14 to just 10 and the Membership committee down from 7 to 4. Without evidence, one can only speculate why serving on management committees is suddenly so unattractive. It is a worrying state of affairs and members should perhaps be encouraging their branch delegates and officers to ask questions. Roger Brooks, North West Craven Branch

Go to Summer School!

Last summer my wife and I attended St Andrews for the first time. We would like to encourage anyone who has not been to go! Where to start? Fried egg and haggis breakfasts? Watching Mairi’s Wedding with the dancers on kazoos! Aching limbs by Friday? The sheer elation of getting a reel right along with 200 other dancers? Or was it the overall buzz, which is amazing? If you have never been to Summer School, here are the basics: six mornings of classes; six nights of dancing; and six walk-through sessions in the afternoons. And that doesn’t give much time for a nap in the afternoon – because this adds up to a pretty exhausting week! Mathematicians reading this will have worked out that the week involves about 70 dances – so we spent a lot of time on the internet, memorising cribs and watching videos. You do get a night off on Friday for a ceilidh – not really a ceilidh – more a talent show with highly professional entertainment provided by the staff, musicians and groups of students. Two performances stand out: an operatic soprano singing ‘I’m tone deaf’; and the paso doble well up to ‘Strictly’ standards. We are told that there were also parties far into the night. So how did we find ourselves there? Well, after a couple of years of basic training we started going to dances, and quickly realised that we were in the company of folk who had been dancing all their lives. Some serious catching up was in order! Then someone mentioned ‘Summer School’ and this seemed like a step in the right direction. A spot of research revealed that there was a class for ‘dancers who have limited footwork, technique, and teamwork, and wish to improve their technique, formations, and their own ability’. This seemed about right for us, and so it was. We found ourselves neither the worst nor the best in a multinational class of about 20 who soon gelled into a friendly group. Our advice is simple: Do it! And gentlemen, if you hire a kilt, make sure it’s not too big. If it is, when dancing, it will slowly travel south! David and Margaret Stoney, Ribble Valley Branch