Editorial

The cover photograph of this issue is from the Saturday Ball of the highly successful Spring Fling and Fringe in Paris. It shows the smiling faces of dancers of all ages. Mathieu Trouillet’s brilliant photographs of the weekend are testament to a wonderfully organised event of both serious and fun-filled classes, inspiring music, and inclusive, enjoyable evening dances.

The Opinion column in this issue is by the well-known Parisian teacher, Antoine Rousseau. He gives us the background to the success of Paris Branch and its mission to attract new dancers. Antoine gives sound advice to all branches trying to recruit young adult dancers. Well done Paris!

On the theme of recruitment, Diana Hastie of Sydney Branch describes the success of beginners’ classes not only in the Branch but also in nearby clubs. Recruiting beginners is not easy, wherever you are. It should be the primary aim of the RSCDS – bringing country dancing to the general public.

The magazine has always contained articles about our history. We seem to be celebrating a lot of significant Branch Anniversaries at the moment and it is right and proper that we do so. In my interview with Janette McSporran we learn more about the early years of the Society. Janette’s father was one of our founders at that first meeting in November 1923, and her mother was one of our earliest teachers, a friend of Jean Milligan, and a direct link with our roots. We need to know more about the 20s, 30s and 40s, so if you know of anyone with any memories of that time, please ask them to be in touch with us.

Looking back on past issues, we seem to have neglected the Festival scene. Festivals take place all over the world, but one of the oldest and certainly the largest is the Aberdeen Festival, running over two days every March. Martha Harris, who has been the organiser for many years, gives us a flavour of what it is like. With so many schoolchildren taking part, it is a big community event finishing up with dancers and audience coming together in an exuberant Dashing White Sergeant.

When I was in the middle of editing this issue, I got an email from a Branch to the ‘staff’ of the magazine. We on the Editorial Team are all volunteers!

The feedback from the last issue is that you prefer the new format of Dancing Around the World, where any branch or club can write in, rather than the system of area correspondents. One constant problem the Editorial Team has is branches and groups keeping their events secret! If there is no report of your branch’s amazing successes this year, it’s because nobody sent anything to us, and if your group’s day school is not in the Day School Diary, it is because nobody told us. Please do check with your club or branch secretary that they are keeping us informed.

Finally, one small request. Most of the photographs we receive are labelled IMG_20190601_194505.jpg. It would really help us if you re-labelled them with your name or branch.

Jimmie Hill, Edinburgh