From around the World Our reporters and regular correspondents keep us up to date with SCD activities everywhere. We welcome Elaine Hoag, new correspondent for Canada East, and thank Keith Bark (retiring correspondent) for his many columns. Please send your contributions to mag.editor@rscds.org. We look forward to hearing from you! United Kingdom Edinburgh Branch 90th Anniversary
Stewart Adam, Chairman RSCDS Edinburgh, with Donald Wilson, Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh
Members and friends of Edinburgh Branch have been busy throughout 2014 attending the events planned for each month of RSCDS Edinburgh’s 90th Anniversary Year. The long and well-documented history of the Branch was displayed at the opening anniversary event, an Archives Afternoon which along with a Garden Party in the summer and Musical Evening planned for November meant that all people connected with the Branch, past and present, could take part. The highlight of the year was the 90th Anniversary Ball in May attended by the Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh followed by a Civic Reception the next day in the City Chambers. Branch members and friends have also contributed to the publication of a 90th Anniversary Book and CD which include Ian Powrie’s Farewell to Auchterarder in a Branch publication for the first time. The packed schedule of events continues right through to the finale ‘Winter Warmer’ dance on 13 December – a real celebration of 90 years of dancing.
With Graham Donald as the teacher and Muriel Johnstone and Keith Smith as the musicians, the quality of the experience was never in doubt. Both the teaching and the music were outstanding. Working as a team, Graham, Muriel and Keith lifted the dancing to a truly satisfying level. Graham worked the dancers hard, setting demanding technical exercises, demonstrating exactly what he wanted and teaching a diverse range of dances with unfailing fluency and good humour. The music for classes was a delight. The MCs had prepared well to guide the dancers through the sophisticated and complex evening dance programmes. Their task was made easier by Alan Cottle’s generously leading afternoon walk-through sessions. The evening dances were fun-filled and highly sociable. A highlight of the Sunday evening ball was Sandy Walker’s piping. He opened the evening by piping to the assembled dancers, then collaborated with Keith and Muriel to insert an additional dance, The Duke of Atholl’s Reel, which was warmly welcomed by everyone.
course. Many dancers will want to have the Ross-on-Wye experience.
Helen Russell Castleton Dancers, Braemar Whatever your views on deer hunting or trophy bagging, that initial glimpse of the interior of the Stag Ballroom at Mar Lodge is spectacular. The skulls of more than 2,000 stags adorn the walls and ceiling (see photo overleaf). The Ballroom was originally constructed for Ghillies’ Balls in the Victorian era, and it was the venue for the Scottish Country Dance hosted by the Castleton Dancers of Braemar on 7 June. Music was provided by the very engaging Frank Thomson Band for an interesting programme of dances based on the theme of the Commonwealth. For many, the dances were unfamiliar, but the unending patience of June Templeman, Linda Gaul and the other ‘recappers’ facilitated a thoroughly sociable evening.
The Larruperz Centre not only had a floor which was kind to feet, but had sufficient space to allow us all to eat together. An excellent catering team provided great food and the dancers took the opportunity for even more socialising during meals. If the noise level at mealtimes was indicative of friendship, passion for dancing and enjoyment, then I think the weekend scored 10/10.
The Castleton Dancers of Braemar is a relatively young group, having formed about seven years ago. The dancers are an integral part of the social fabric of Braemar and have raised £68,000 for local and international charities. By the same token, local organisations such as the Braemar Tourism Group, the Cairngorms National Park Authority and the Marr Area Partnership acknowledge the dancers’ contribution by funding replacement dancing pumps and outfits when needed.
Plans are underway for the 2018 Easter
Alasdair Graham
Andrew Nolan Ross-on-Wye Easter Course Following the success of the 2010 Easter course in Ross-on-Wye, dancers urged the organiser, Steve Goulden, to arrange another course. He worked tirelessly for well over a year, consulting with a team of MCs, and on 18 April 2014 eighty-eight eager dancers converged on the Larruperz Centre in Ross-on-Wye for a weekend of dancing, music and social activity. They came from all over the UK, France, Germany, Switzerland, Canada and Hawaii.
Class at Ross-on-Wye Photo Steve Goulden
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