From the Chairman
Youth Services Lorna Ogilvie
Little did I realise when I learned Scottish country dancing as a child, at Mary Erskine School in Edinburgh, that I would have the honour, and responsibility, of becoming RSCDS Chairman in 2020. Looking back on the intervening years what stands out for me is the sheer enjoyment I have had from dancing, and the many lifelong friends I have made. For many years I attended Summer School at St Andrews, and I rarely missed an AGM weekend, even when living in London over a period of 20 years. These were opportunities to catch up with dancing friends from around the country, to have fun on the dance floor, and to enhance my dancing skills thanks to being challenged by superb teachers. After studying Geography at Edinburgh and Calgary universities, my teaching career took me from Inverness to Croydon, then back north to Perthshire and Aberdeen, finally returning to Croydon for my second Headship, before retiring to Scone near Perth. During these years I taught extra-curricular Scottish country dancing to all ages from 8-18 and saw just how much dancing meant to these youngsters. Entering Aberdeen teams for the festival, and taking seniors on music tours to the USA, were highlights for both the girls and me.
The local RSCDS branch gave me not just the dancing which I love, but the perfect way to make new friends. Each time my job took me to another location I would join the local RSCDS branch. This gave me not just the dancing which I love, but the perfect way to make new friends. Over the years I have enjoyed Scottish country dancing at formal balls and village hops, and with wildly enthusiastic boys and girls at school dances. There have been demonstrations at grand venues such as Blair Castle and Scone Palace, alongside more challenging surfaces like grass at local village events and, whilst in Aberdeen, on visiting cruise ships. There were truly memorable events such as dancing on the football pitch at Wembley, with teams from all over London, and of course the nerve-wracking highly competitive Aberdeen Music Festival! Serving as branch Chairman in Aberdeen and Croydon, and Secretary in Perth and Perthshire, gave me a unique insight into how tirelessly branch committees work organising classes and dances. Additionally, my two stints on the Management Board, prior to becoming Chairman Elect, were undoubtedly invaluable preparation for the next two years. I take on the Chairman’s role at the end of the most unsettling year any of us has ever experienced. The Covid-19 lockdown has affected all of our lives. Not being able to dance has, for many members, meant not just the lack of the fitness this brings, but more importantly the loss of a precious social life linked to the fun of dancing with others. The Society has run the very successful DSAH Summer Celebration week, and Autumn Evening, in addition to the DSAH newsletter and weekly online class. Members agree that this has helped to keep spirits up and, equally importantly, sustained communication within our worldwide RSCDS family. I know that
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Joana Stausberg Hello from the Youth Services Committee - we all are as keen to dance as ever, and keep our fingers crossed that you are, too! The AGM brought us Abigail Brown as a new member. Margaret Lambourne and Olga McIntosh ended their terms on the committee in November and we thank them for the time, love and effort they have invested.
a Virtual Spring Fling from Aberdeen on 17 April Another year, another Spring Fling event cancelled. This time, however, we’re prepared. These times do prepare us for all kinds of things, don’t they? We’ll turn the disappointment into something exciting: A Virtual Spring Fling. The Aberdeen Spring Fling committee together with the Aberdeen Branch are presenting a day of various online sessions, including country dance and step classes, fun theory sessions and a ceilidh evening. The event will take place on Saturday, 17 April. We look forward to ‘seeing’ you there. Thank you, Angela and the DSAH team, for your support of the venture! After the beautiful and fun contributions to the 2020 Virtual Festival, we will host another one this year. We want to encourage you to engage with dancing in new ways again, at least for all those of you who cannot (yet) dance together. Please wait until the Virtual Spring Fling for further announcements. Other plans for this year to keep us busy include raising our social media profile and creating a calendar for 2022. large numbers of branches have also found innovative ways to keep their members in touch socially. Nonetheless, we all long for the day when we can meet up and dance together, in person.
The Society will have to adapt to operating in the ‘new normal’ even after the vaccination rollout. I am a natural optimist, but there are immense challenges ahead for the RSCDS. There are financial pressures on the budget emphasising the need to retain memberships whilst we await a return to the dance floor. The Society will have to adapt to operating in the ‘new normal’ even after the vaccination rollout. Whilst fully appreciating that dancers would like specific advice on how to approach this return to dancing, ongoing regulations at both local, and national level, make this almost impossible. We all recognise that a gradual build-up towards full fitness on the dance floor will be advisable. My role, working with the Management Board, Committees and Working Groups, and supported by Clare and the office staff, is to take the Society forward looking especially at how we can modernise our approach to communications, building on the achievements of the past year. Marketing will play an important role in this as we return to dancing and prepare to celebrate our Centenary in 2023. If ever there was a need to have such an exciting year to look forward to, it is now!
