What is Scottish Country Dancing?
Scottish Country Dancing (SCD) is a sociable dance form with roots stretching back for centuries. Participants are grouped into sets, typically of 3, 4, or 5 couples arranged either in two lines (men facing ladies) or in a square, and work together to dance a sequence of formations. This will leave them in a new order, and the dance is repeated enough times to bring them back to their starting positions, with everyone dancing each position in turn.
SCD is mainly danced socially, for pure pleasure and enjoyment, but some groups also
perform in festivals both competitive and non-
Scottish Country Dancing is not something which can be learned in a night, you need to attend classes regularly for a couple of years to become proficient, but you will still have great fun while you are learning, and you will find that everyone is very friendly and helpful.
Costs
The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society Headquarters are in
Edinburgh. HQ run Summer and Winter Schools each year, produce Dance Books and CDs of music to go with them. They also set the standards for dancing, set proficiency tests, and teaching exams for those who want to take them. Members also receive 2 magazines a year.
As a regular dancer at the Dumfries Branch classes we would like you to consider
joining the RSCDS. As well as paying for your classes this costs, per year, Adult
Single (age 25 +) £15.00. 2 Adults at same address, Joint (age 25+) £24.00. Young
Adult (age 18 -
Things to Help
1. The Top (or up) is the end of the room which has the music.
2. The men’s line has left shoulders towards the music
3. The ladies line has right shoulders towards the music
4. Always get a partner before joining a set
5. Always join on the end of the line (don’t join in the middle)
6. Never leave the set after you have been numbered.
Steps
Strathspey –
Travelling step -
Setting step – feet going to the side (right close right hop, left close left hop) = 2 steps and takes 2 bars of music.
Reel and Jig –
Slip step – either left close, left close or right close, right close, (depending which way you are going). 2 steps (left close, left close) take 1 bar of music.
Skip Change – feet going forward (hop [on the left] right close right, hop [on the right] left close left = 2 steps and takes 2 bars of music.
Pas de Basque – (or setting) done on the spot – transferring the weight – right left right jette, left right left jette = 2 steps and takes 2 bars of music.
Classes normally start with a round the room dance which is walked to help warm up the muscles, and then a few stretches to try and reduce the likelihood of injuries.
About Scottish Country Dancing