Another good reason to enjoy Scottish Country Dancing

[vmac3205]

While on vacation, we danced with a great group in Budapest, Hungary. All Hungarians - not a Scot or a kilt in the group, but fine dancers. All had been well schoold on their foot work and looked good. in our area, the average age of the dancers is probably 55. In Hungary, they were all late teens to mid 30s,

Yeah for the youth!!

[muirkirkca]

Took my first lessons in Jan-Mar period and will repeat in the fall. Had about 16 in the class and mostly female and post 55 as myself. Great exercise of the mind and body including balance. I admit that I take some artistic (or lack thereof) licence with the steps however. Decent shoes that don't slip on the floor are an advantage. Didn't wear a kilt but that will likely change as it seems more in keeping with the environment.

[Carolina Kiltman]

I admire you folks that enjoy dancing. I for one don't dance at all, as I feel very self conscious when I do. It has never been a fun event. Now, that being said, maybe dancing kilted would be a whole different matter.....I might have to give it a shot.

As an elderly coot (75) I have to admit that some of the more complicated steps are difficult, especially when arthritic joints complain, yet my bride and I are members and generally go to the weekly practices, and are part of the special occasion dances. Lots of fun, and nobody complains about my lack of skill. Some things I just cannot do well, the pas de basque, for instance, yet that isn't going to stop me from having fun! For those who have never seen HCD, I can only say that it is refined square dancing (which I understand is a child of it) So quit thinking that everybody is looking at you and jump right in! (We have a joking "other right hand" when one of the lefties reaches out)

[MartinGrenoble]

I think that joke must be pretty universal (en France : non, l'autre main gauche ! ).
The thing is that we can joke about each other's mistakes and still get some good dancing and enjoy ourselves. It's a matter of cooperation and team work, not competition to see who is best.

It is also great to be able to travel somewhere new, find a SCD group, join in and feel you are among friends. I was very glad to find SCDers when I went to study in N Carolina many years ago, and, more recently, I have been welcomed into clubs in Germany, Austria, Hungary, Japan, and now, in Spain.

Martin

[Panache]

...The thing is that we can joke about each other's mistakes and still get some good dancing and enjoy ourselves. It's a matter of cooperation and team work, not competition to see who is best.

What a great way of summing up SCD Martin.

Cheers

Jamie

[Graham]

Sometimes my polite turns are not so polite, one lady take delight at the end of, say, rights and lefts, to swing me hard into a polite turn to see the kilt spin. Wife is not impressed.