A European Dancing Trip One of the remarkable achievements of the many Scottish country dance enthusiasts who moved away from Scotland has been how they took their dancing with them and started groups wherever they lived. It is astonishing how many overseas dancers have developed a fondness for Scotland through enjoying Scottish music and dance, even although they may have no ancestral link with this small country on the edge of Europe. In this article some of these dancers in Europe share their group’s stories and their optimism about the future of Scottish country dancing. Belgium Way back in the 14th and 15th centuries, at the time of the Dukes of Burgundy, the political, cultural and economic centre of northern Europe was the area known as the Low Countries and was the major trading route between the British Isles and the continent of Europe. The close relationship between the UK and what is now The Netherlands and Belgium continues to this day, and Scottish country dancers frequently crisscross the North Sea to attend each other’s events. Brussels is a very cosmopolitan city attracting many nationalities to work in its international organisations and this has been reflected in the dance group over the years: Belgian, French, Hungarian, German, Danish, Spanish, Italian, American - with the occasional token Scot! Many of our dancers’ first experience of Scottish dancing was at a ceilidh and they then decided they wanted to learn more. In 1973, Renée Campbell set up a new class in St Andrews Church, separate from the Caledonian Society, as she wanted to focus on the RSCDS principles and a wider programme of dances for both beginners and advanced. Dancing was very important to her, but the social side and the tea and biscuit break were sacrosanct, as were her mince pies at the Xmas party. She went to Summer School every year and enjoyed hosting a pre-dinner drink in her room. John Drewry wrote a dance for her, Renée Campbell’s Capers, but she never divulged what the capers were. Brussels Dance Scottish has been an affiliated RSCDS group for many years and, for those who want to spread their dancing wings and attend Summer School or other RSCDS events, we encourage them to join through the International Branch and even serve on the IB Committee!
Anne Scobie, Brussels Dance Scottish, RSCDS International Branch, Belgium
Brussels dancers dressed up for the Ball.
The Vlamms Caledonische Society (Flemish Caledonian Society) was founded in 1977 with the aim of promoting Scottish culture in Flanders. In 1978, country dance classes were organised under the supervision of George Ross, a Scot living in Brussels. A couple of years later the society became an affiliated group of the RSCDS, and now has a certificated teacher, Helena Strandberg. In the early 80s, the club started organising classes in Highland dancing and tuition in playing the bagpipes. For many years, the VCS organised an annual Scottish Fair which attracted thousands of visitors and was one of the major sponsors in a project to erect a Scottish memorial monument in Zonnebeke near Ieper in August 2007, in remembrance of the Scottish soldiers who died during the First World War.
John Wembridge, Vlamms Caledonische Society, Belgium The Netherlands
The Thistle Club Ball, Eindhoven, The Netherlands, c1980s In October 1977, in Eindhoven in The Netherlands, a few members of the folk dance club Vodawiko held an advertised, introductory evening to start a beginners’ course in Scottish country dancing. One of the members, Frans Ligtmans, had gained her Prelim teaching certificate and already taught classes in Flushing, and dancers Rik and Claire de Vroome, with Ruud and Wil van Leersum, were able to assist the six beginners who turned up. This class turned into the regular meetings of The Thistle Club. Men were in short supply, despite Frans promising a silver teaspoon to the first person who brought two new men along! We advertised in the local newspaper and supermarkets for members, but word of mouth worked best. There was quite a ‘folk rage’ in the 1970s and 80s, so the time was ripe for folk dancing, and we soon had a good-sized group. We held our first Scottish dance with Bas Broekhuizen from Epe as MC. Many friends and family were our audience, but they were encouraged to join in. During the interval, Bas gave a slideshow of Scotland and he and Anita demonstrated a few Highland dances. We organised day schools (with some Irish or Highland dancing – Bobby Watson was the first teacher), inviting a different teacher each time, and in 1980 Bas and Anita taught a day school and Frank Reid’s Band provided the music for our first Ball. Over the years, members gave demonstrations and theatre shows at Scottish events and at an annual summer folk festival. All our costumes (except most of the kilts) were designed and sewn by Frans Ligtmans. Encouraged by visiting teacher Anna Holden, Frans taught a Prelim course in 1983, teaching many young aspiring teachers, several later gaining their full certificate in St. Andrews. Since then, the club has organised many Burns night ceilidhs with more than 100 people attending, but despite the enthusiasm on the night, these ceilidhs rarely produce any new members!! Margaret Lambourne, The Thistle Club, Eindhoven, RSCDS International Branch
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