The Stooshie

In Scotland local newspapers are very good at reporting on Scottish country dance events, particularly if they involve children. In the national press during the AGM weekend in November we had a country dance ‘stooshie’ – a Scots word meaning a kind of minor row or commotion. The Aberdeen Press and Journal, echoed by the other Scottish dailies, had the headline ‘Scottish country dancing needs to go, so we can stop bullying.’ Minor shock waves rippled around our conference weekend. For those not familiar with Scottish schools, November is the time when ‘social dancing’ is taught in virtually every school throughout the country in the run-up to St Andrews Night or school Christmas dances. The basic dances taught are usually the Gay Gordons, the Canadian Barn Dance, Strip the Willow, the Dashing White Sergeant, the St Bernard’s Waltz and, if you are lucky, the Eightsome Reel. In primary schools, class teachers teach the dances. In secondary schools it is the PE teachers and it is normal to gather several classes together in the school hall. It is not unknown to have over 100 teenagers together, with one teacher, and a CD player. Many of us have fond memories of dancing with a member of the opposite sex for the first time during these classes. Any teacher who has taught children knows that girls dance with boys, wee girls dance with wee girls, wee laddies dance with other wee laddies. As long as they are dancing and having fun! The Press reported that the Scottish Association of Teachers of Physical Education had claimed that the ‘gender specific’ nature of social dance could be linked to bullying and homophobia. LEAP Sports Scotland, the organisation committed to breaking down barriers which prevent LGBT people across the country from participating in sport, reported an increase in calls from school pupils seeking help about bullying during the period when social dancing was taught. The Society replied vigourously to refute any connection with dancing and bullying. By the Monday following, the whole stooshie had died down and an excellent article with quotes from Jim Healy, appeared in The Glasgow Herald, ‘Society rejects country dance bullying claim.’ The whole issue had risen on the Friday and was dead by the Monday. A storm in a teacup. The debate, however, continued on the newspapers’ websites. Most people were outraged by the attack on country dancing and were generally supportive. Alasdair Mackenzie was so good at it that he got to stand at the front and wind up the gramophone! Eileen McBride summed it up, ‘What complete and utter nonsense.’ Several months on, and nobody remembers it. It has been said that all publicity – good or bad – is good publicity. And there’s only one thing worse than being talked about – and that is not being talked about! Jimmie Hill