More Scottish Country Dancing from around the world.
A 3x40 Reel from Salt Spring s SCD Club
Louisville Scottish Country Dance Society
Reading St Andrew's Scottish Dancing Society members have regular social and other events throughout the year.
DIARY DATES
2012
| Jan | 25 | Wed | Burns Night Social |
| Feb | 4 | Sat | Annual Ball: 7.30 pm to 11.30 pm Music: Craigellachie Scottish Country Dance Band At: The Abbey School, Kendrick Road Reading RG1 5DZ Dances from the Ball programme will be taught on Wednesdays in January ** TICKETS ** Please send £16 + A5 self addressed env to: Duncan Barnet, Flat 4, 8 Western Elms Avenue, Reading RG30 2AN. Home: 0118 956 9289 Mobile: 07954 421 619 email : Duncan Barnet Download Programme Word 2010 version Download Crib Sheet Word 2003 Version |
| Mar | 14 | Wed | Annual General Meeting |
| Apr | 14 | Sat | Spring Dance and Ceilidh: 7.30 pm to 11.00pm At: Chiltern Edge School, Reades Lane Sonning Common, Reading RG4 9LN Music: Dancing to recorded music MC: Alan Davis |
The major events are summarised below:
Burns Night
In
January each year, the society celebrates Burns Night on the closest
Wednesday to the 26th.
We have a Social Dance evening with the traditional Burns Supper halfway through
the evening with the Haggis having been piped.
Annual Ball
In February each year, the Society organises a Ball in a large hall in Reading. It is decorated beautifully and a band is invited to come and play for the evening.
Dinner is served half way through the programme, and should you not be sure whether you are able to come, maybe the delicious array of puddings will tempt you to the Ball.
Videos of our 2009 Ball can be found on the media section of the home page.
AGM
The AGM is held each year on a Wednesday in March and is chaired by Robert Barthram the Minister of St Andrew’s United Reform Church and the President of the Society.
All
members no matter whether they usually dance on a Tuesday or Thursday evening
are encouraged to come along to join the dancing before and after the AGM. As an
added incentive, there is no charge! It is likely that nominations will be
required for new members of the Committee. A current Committee member or a
notice on the board in the hall will provide more information.
Ceilidh
The ceilidh is usually held in April each year. It is an informal evening and an ideal opportunity for both dancers and non-dancers to enjoy a night out together. So bring along all those spouses, children, friends and work colleagues who wonder what we get up to at St Andrews and it’ll be a great opportunity to show them!
The MC for the evening tailors the programme to suit the abilities of those who turn up. Interspersed between the dances will be 3 or 4 musical items for your further entertainment. In the last few years both the Elementary / Improvers class and the Demonstration team have shown us their latest skills on the dance floor.
BARBEQUE
In July, one of the Society members allows us to use their garden for a
barbeque. All members and their families are invited to come and enjoy a relaxed
evening of BBQ'ing and dancing on the lawn. You will need to bring something to
drink and your own food to barbecue but salads, rolls, coffee and cakes are
provided by the Society. Something to sit on would also be an advantage.
Afternoon School
The club organises an Afternoon School from time to time as advertised on the events page. We always ask a guest teacher and musician to come and teach and play for us. Sometimes they are local to Reading but on occasion they have travelled down from Scotland. It is always fun to learn new things from a different teacher and to have live music to dance to. A ploughman’s supper is provided after the school for those who stay on for the dance. The programme is made up of favourite dances along with a couple chosen by the teacher and great fun is had by all.
RSCDS - Summer and Winter Schools
Summer School - St Andrew's
Every year the RSCDS holds a Summer School at St Andrews University over a
four-week period in July and August. It is open to all members of the RSCDS over
the age of 16 and people come from all over the world to participate.
You can attend for either one or two weeks, living either in a University Hall of Residence or in accommodation around the town. A choice of classes is offered, so there should be one to suit everyone. The Introductory course is also open to non-members and concentrates on basic steps and simple dances.
Other classes include Intermediate, Advanced, Very Advanced and a class for Fully Certified Teachers. Whichever class you attend, they start promptly at 9.30 and by 10.45 you are certainly ready for a cup of coffee in one of St Andrews' many coffee houses. Much refreshed, you head off to your second class of the morning, which might be more country dancing, or could be Ladies Step or Highland.
By lunchtime you are pleased for a rest! The afternoon is yours to do what you like in - walk round the ruins of the Cathedral, visit some of the charming little fishing villages along the East Neuk of Fife or simply put your feet up.
In the evenings, social dancing is organised in one of the many University halls. On one evening, the dance is held in the Younger Hall, which has a wonderful sprung floor. It's amazing how your feet keep dancing to the superb music, even when they keep telling you they are tired!
If you are thinking of going you will have great fun. You need to obtain an application form from the Secretary and return it with a deposit by 1st March.
Winter School - Pitlochry
Each year the RSCDS holds a Winter School, based in the
Atholl Palace Hotel in Pitlochry. For six days in late February, the students attend two graded
Scottish Country Dance classes every morning, optional Highland and Ceilidh
classes in the afternoon and social dancing in the evening. The highlight of
their stay is a dance in the spectacular Ballroom at Blair Castle, dancing to
the music of one of the best dance bands in the country. More details, including
application forms, are available from the Secretary. Completed forms should be submitted to RSCDS Headquarters before 30th
September.
Shoes
Need
new shoes? Members of the Society have bought them from:
Munro Competition Shoes - 01444 456807 for leaflets and prices
James Senior of St Andrews - 01334 473355 /
sales@jamessenior co.uk
Dancia International - 0118 9478123.
Website
The Reel Quality Dance Supplies,
26 Limefield, Edinburgh EH17 8PF - 0131 620 3119 /
sales@the-reel.co.uk /
www.the-reel.co.uk