SCD Valentine's Ball

**Panache** · 10th February 08, 01:05 PM

Yesterday evening my Lovely Flame-Haired Celtic Amazon Goddess and I traveled to the Scottish Rite Center in nearby Oakland where the San Francisco branch of the Royal Scottish Dance Society http://www.rscds-sf.org/ held their annual Valentine’s Ball. This was our first formal SCD ball and we were both a tad nervous as some of the very best dancers in our area would be attending.

The Scottish Rite Center is a grand old building on the shores of Lake Merit and a wonderful place to attend a formal ball.

We arrived just in time to be part of the grand march (a winding parade that allows all the dancers to get a look at all the other dancers). This was done to the stirring music of a piper who then retired in the favor of “Fiddlesticks and Ivory” (an eight piece band).

Our fears proved to be in vain, it seems the more skilled the Scottish Country Dancer the nicer they are. We enjoyed quite a few dances and even loved the opportunities to just sit and watch the whirling couples on the dance floor.

Here are a few pictures from the evening

Panache ready to dance

The F-H.C.A.G. is such a classic beauty I thought I would have a try at making this picture of her seem like one from a bygone time.

A view from the Balcony

The F-H.C.A.G. on the floor

A very talent pair

With our beautiful friend Deb

Often here on XMTS we talk about having the “guts” to wear the kilt. Here is a photo of Deb with her husband David who is not fond of kilts. David likes to dress up and he is a good Scottish Country Dancer. He came up with a Prince Charlie tuxedo outfit (the slacks are custom fitted to have a higher rise similar to trews for formal events. I put it to all of you that it takes a lot of confidence to be the one fellow in pants amongst the hundreds of kilted men. I think he looks great.

Highlights of the night were "Waverly" , "12 Coates Crescent", and "Mrs Allie Anderson". There was a men's set for "Reel of the 51st Division" which having just watched the movie Tunes of Glory was especially fun. The gentlemen added arms and gusto to this dance which makes me want to practice more so I can join in the fun next year.

There were some waltzes (and a polka!

) between sets and a midnight supper to end the evening on.

All in all a wonderful night!

Cheers

Jamie

**Rex_Tremende** · 10th February 08, 01:31 PM

Sweet! Looks like a ton of fun.

I'm curious if you were the only x-markers there.

Regards,
Rex.

**Panache** · 10th February 08, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by Rex_Tremende

Sweet! Looks like a ton of fun.

I'm curious if you were the only x-markers there.

Regards,
Rex.

As far as I know we were. I have mentioned XMTS to our San Jose class but so far no one (to my knowledge) has taken the plunge and joined. The XMTS tartan militiary box pleat kilt was admired though.

Cheers

Jamie

**Arlen** · 10th February 08, 01:46 PM

Fantastic pictures, Panache. It looks like it was a great ball. And you two looked wonderful.
There's something to be said for a man confident enough to wear trousers to an SCD ball, but he did cut a dashing figure.

**cessna152towser** · 10th February 08, 02:18 PM

Superb pictures, Jamie, and well worth the wait for them to download. Looks like you and your good lady had an excellent evening and I am very pleased that you enjoy SCD so much. I have recently re-started attending a weekly SCD class which I look forward to very much on a Tuesday evening.

**Big Mikey** · 10th February 08, 02:27 PM

He's handsome, a sharp dresser, can dance and write, has great taste in women...........

How's a fat old man to compete?!? Lookin' good guys!!

**BEEDEE** · 10th February 08, 02:38 PM

Originally Posted by Big Mikey

He's handsome, a sharp dresser, can dance and write, has great taste in women...........

How's a fat old man to compete?!? Lookin' good guys!!

Big Mikey says it all!

Brian

**GMan** · 10th February 08, 05:37 PM

What a fantastic looking evening!

**Cynthia** · 10th February 08, 06:25 PM

Everyone looks great -- it looks like it was a fun time!

**Hamish** · 10th February 08, 06:49 PM

Oh, Jamie, how your photos take me back to my hey-days on the dance floor! In the 1960s/70s our group would attend such Balls maybe two or three times every year in London and other parts of south-east England.

When I danced with the RSCDS London Branch Demonstration Team, we would often provide the 'Cabaret' at similar events and, many a time we presented an all-male "Reel of the 51st Division" - sometimes in unkilted uniforms from all three services. As you know, the dance was originally devised in a German prisioner-of-war camp by a Scots Officer!

Great photos - many thanks Jamie.

Take care,
Ham.