Review: The Imperial Book

The Imperial Book of Scottish Country Dances, Volumes 4, 5 and more

With the arrival of the second book in the summer of 2019 the RSCDS has now revised and published the dances from the Imperial Society books. The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) was established in London in 1904 and offered examinations in many dance forms including Scottish country dancing from 1953. It was renamed the Scottish Dance Branch when Highland Dancing was added in 1969 and absorbed into the National Dance Branch in 1992 as interest in SCD declined. The SCD branch was discontinued in 2014 and the RSCDS was able to obtain the copyright thereafter. The first ISTD publication in 1966 contained dances devised by its leading lights, Edna Russell and Jack McConachie. The introduction tells us ‘it is a further example of the modern trend introducing dances containing variations of popular figures’ and ‘gives greater opportunity for the supporting couples to take an active part in the dance and leads to a more lively social atmosphere, the basic intention of all good dancing.’ The books thereafter were the result of annual competitions in Jack McConachie’s memory. Members were asked to devise a dance and the winner held the trophy of a Wilkinson Sword for one year. One of the requirements was that the dance included a new formation or a variation on an existing formation. Some included Highland steps. The RSCDS published Volumes 1 – 3 in 2014, containing the dances placed in first second and third places in the 1968-77 competitions. This most recent volume contains Volumes 4 – 5, taking in dances until the end of 1993 and the later dances were those placed up until the competitions ended in 2000. We now have the 100 dances in two volumes. 57 require the correct number of couples in the set. 6 are medleys, one requiring six dancers is danced in a diamond formation, and there’s a couple facing couple round the room strathspey too. Only one third have music suggested for them. In some cases those named tunes or suggested recordings are originals for other sometimes well-known dances. Dancers using the original books were required to refer to the 1960 ISTD publication Scottish Country Dances of the Eighteenth Century by Jack McConachie for descriptions of the formations named in the books. These formations included Turning Double Triangles, Pass and Turn Chain for Six, Reversing Chain for Six. The RSCDS revised the terminology used in the descriptions, but does confirm the original names of the formations. I have enjoyed using the books and teaching a selection of dances to many class levels and abilities. The formations being a wee bit different give the classes something new to think about. I commend the books to you. Give them a try. Janet Johnston, Stirling Branch