In My Opinion

Elinor Vandergrift

Elinor Vandegrift teaches for the Seattle Branch and was appointed one of the first two North American RSCDS examiners in 1995. She says that one of the great joys of being an examiner is seeing the maturity and enthusiasm shown by teachers when they take their Unit 5 examination after having taught for a few years.

Thanks to Dance Scottish At Home, we have had a plethora of ‘Mystery Teachers’ from ‘Mystery Locations’ around the globe. What an outstanding job Angela and her team have done and continue to do! None of us knew that this ‘new normal’ would last as long as it has.

The importance of good teaching skills

Each Wednesday, DSAH teachers have been poised and wellprepared, and have shown that our training programme is proving its worth. Some teachers have been trained by visiting tutors from afar. The standardized, flexible RSCDS programme has allowed them to develop individual styles to bring out the best in their students.

Many parts of the world have branches and clubs that do not have enough students for classes at different levels. Also, many of us adjust our plans to include new students who cross the threshold that day. Some of the new students have danced at pub ceilidhs while on holiday; others have watched a topnotch demonstration team at a Scottish event. Local publicity attracts people looking for a fun, social activity. Some join us to prepare to dance at a family event, while others just love Scottish music or have a Scottish relative somewhere in their past and want to discover more about this heritage.

Until last March and the introduction of pandemic restrictions on social activities, I taught such a mixed ability class. We sometimes have enjoyed a second teacher sharing skills and ideas. This was a bonus for all. With their encouraging manner, the experienced dancers have always been the epitome of a welcoming and friendly class.

Teachers are always learning

Teachers owe it to themselves and their classes to continue their own learning and growth. However long one has been teaching, attending classes taught by other teachers should be an inspiration and an adjunct to one’s own teaching: enjoy how seamlessly, or not, a class moves along; appreciate the pace, timing, and the class management; envision how you might include new ideas.

The Manual of yore was Won’t You Join the Dance, (later referenced as WYJD) written by Miss Milligan. I expect there are many other teachers who have all the editions with green, turquoise, blue, and purple jackets. Our written examination used to include presenting ideas on how to teach a particular step or formation to different levels of ability. Individual ideas were expected and stood us in good stead when we qualified with our Preliminary Test or Full Certificate.

In praise of the RSCDS Teaching scheme

Our current RSCDS Manual is helping everyone to learn standard teaching skills, vocabulary, and etiquette. The new modular examination system is giving us a good final result: well prepared and poised teachers. Unit 4 encourages teacher candidates to reflect on their lessons, to self-evaluate, and to adjust their plans so that their subsequent teaching is improved. It is unfortunate that many of them do not have the luxury of teaching a consecutive series of lessons with a class.

I enjoyed a career teaching adapted P.E. for children with multiple disabilities. In the early days of ‘inclusion’, I helped mentor and monitor P.E. teachers who were having to accommodate children with special needs. I have always been impressed that my RSCDS teacher training prepared me for this mentoring. Working with the P.E. teachers also helped me to have more empathy for struggling dancers, while ensuring all my students were having fun while learning.

We have a great training programme for our prospective dance teachers. We know that as SCD continues to evolve, so will our training programme. At the end of WYJD Miss Milligan stated, “Scottish Country Dancing is a happy, social pastime, not a disorderly romp.” It is my opinion that teachers will continue to avoid disorderly romps and strive for fun, fitness, and friendship on the dance floor and beyond.

(For readers of a historic inclination: before WYJTD, John Duthie and Allie Anderson wrote The Complete Guide to Scottish Country Dancing. This was published by McDougalls in 1935. It was widely used and even recommended to schoolteachers by the New Zealand Education Ministry in the 1960s. [Ed.]).

Happy Smiles in Elinor’s Class at Lake Forest Park