Scottish Country Dancing Questions

[Panache]

Glen,

I have only been doing Scotish Country Dancing for a year, so I am certainly no expert. What I have I have found is that my PV Semi-traditional USA Kilt is my favorite for SCD. It feels light but has decent weight with plenty of pleats ( when I get a "polite turn" there is a good amount of flair). All this and the fact it is easily washable is why I'm saving my pennies for my next one.

Cheers

Jamie

[Pleater]

We used to do Scottish dances at school - the teacher was always telling us off for grinning, laughing and generally having fun.

Weell excuuuuse meee - I thought that was the whole idea of social dancing, not to prance about in deadly solemnity.

We only got to do the reels and other multiple dances though - for some reason she thought jigs were not what polite people did. Raising arms when setting was not allowed either.

Whooping or other sounds of exhilaration were naturally an anathema.

Some folks just do not know how to have fun.

[McMurdo]

Thanks Jamie
I do have a USA Semi-Traditional Kilt in Black Stewart. I think it will work well, I will also try my PV Maple Leaf, but I think the Isle of Skye is out as it seems too heavy. When I got home from buying my dance ghillies there was a notice of a package at the post office, not sure if it's my new kilt or my sealskin sporran, it is a good day nonetheless. I will let you all know what is waiting for me at the post office once I pick it up.

[McMurdo]

Pleater

I guess I am lucky, my instructor was laughing as hard as anyone else, and she described it as a social dance to be enjoyed and had fun with, so that is what we did. It was a great night I am glad I have proper shoes now, so it should be more enjoyable next week.

[Panache]

We used to do Scottish dances at school - the teacher was always telling us off for grinning, laughing and generally having fun.

Laughter and smiles seems to be a rather large component of the classes I attend.

Cheers

Jamie

[Hamish]

We used to do Scottish dances at school - the teacher was always telling us off for grinning, laughing and generally having fun.

Weell excuuuuse meee - I thought that was the whole idea of social dancing, not to prance about in deadly solemnity.

We only got to do the reels and other multiple dances though - for some reason she thought jigs were not what polite people did. Raising arms when setting was not allowed either.

Whooping or other sounds of exhilaration were naturally an anathema.

Some folks just do not know how to have fun.

No disrespect but I think the style of dancing you describe here, Pleater, is more commonly known as 'reeling' - a fairly uncontrolled form of Scottish Country Dancing more suited to wild parties! I have been a SC dancer for over 57 years (although I am no longer able to partake) and, whilst the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society can be a little po-faced at times, the style of dancing it advocates does suit very many people the world over. Having fun does not necessarily mean exhuberant yelling, whooping, spinning and throwing your partner across the hall - which I have witnessed more than once. There is a great deal of fun, satisfaction and enjoyment to be had from performing a dance elegantly, courteously and with decorum. Reels, jigs, strathspeys, schottisches - they are all fine and perfectly acceptable nowadays in polite society!!

The raising of arms belongs in the world of Highland Dancing rather than Scottish Country. The Foursome Reel and Reel of Tulloch are probably the only dances I remember performing at Scottish Country Dance events where arms were raised.

[McMurdo]

So a wee update for you I went to Hector Russell today, it is so good to have quality shops here, anyway, I bought myself a pair of dancing ghillies, and then I ended up with a charcoal Argyle and waistcoat. I was sure it is a Breamer, so I asked the salesman, and he assured me that the jacket is indeed an Argyle, however it has the Prince Charlie cuff much like the breamer jacket,

[Hamish]

Glen, I am delighted that you have been 'bitten' and I am sure you will have years of enjoyment (and good exercise) with SCD in the years to come. I do so miss my weekly fix as I have not really been able to dance for several years now, but I have the happiest of memories of social evenings, classes, demonstrations and Grand Balls over the years. As long as you know your rights from your lefts you will be fine

You have obtained your dance ghillies before I could advise you - but you have opted for one of the best makers, James Senior who, I believe, are located in St. Andrews, Fife. For many years, mine were made to order by Bobby Munro who was himself a beautiful and very talented Highland dancer. He is sadly no longer with us, but one of his 'apprentices' still makes the shoes here in Sussex.

Comments have been made about rubber soles on ghillies. I always had two pairs with me when attending unfamiliar venues, or when giving demonstrations on grass. One pair, those most used, had leather soles but occasionally a dance floor can be very slippery indeed - as can wet grass - and my second pair, with non-slip rubber soles, prevented many an embarrassing fall.

Enjoy!

[McMurdo]

Well Hamish here are the ghillies I purchased today they do indeed have the leather sole

[Pleater]

No disrespect but I think the style of dancing you describe here, Pleater, is more commonly known as 'reeling' - a fairly uncontrolled form of Scottish Country Dancing more suited to wild parties!
The raising of arms belongs in the world of Highland Dancing rather than Scottish Country. The Foursome Reel and Reel of Tulloch are probably the only dances I remember performing at Scottish Country Dance events where arms were raised.

I'm afraid that our teacher would have had three fits at that sort of dancing.



When I went to dances in my teens and did - for instance - the eightsome reel - I was quite startled to be grabbed about the waist - only interlocked arms were allowed at school, and my heart quite missed a beat when I was lifted off my feet by an enthusiastic partner. as they were all now so much taller and stronger...

Perhaps it was just the style common on the locality but when setting and dancing solo arms were raised Highland style.

I don't know if there was a migration of men from the Highlands into South Yorkshire at some time, but one of the boys games was to chalk a cross or use four paving slabs and dance a sword dance to the clapping or drumming of the other participants - though that was banned at school due to the fights which developed over the 'did!' 'did NOT!!' which arose over a disputed stepping on a line. John Macenroe was a lambkin by comparison.