Youth

by Roy Bain, Interim Convenor

Following the AGM in 2011, when the establishment of a new Youth Services Committee was agreed, the Management Board appointed an interim committee to get the work started. Our remit, which is global and aimed at children and young people, is, in general terms, to: ● encourage and promote SCD and its music; ● establish policies and strategies for the delivery of SCD in schools, colleges and universities; ● develop policies and procedures to extend access to, and support and encourage participation in, demonstration teams, and to create opportunities for such teams; ● maintain a series of guidance notes for branches wishing to develop initiatives to engage children and young people with

SCD in their local area; ● manage Young Dancer (the Youth ezine) and the Young Dancer social networking site; ● maintain engagement of SCD with other dance forms and experimental “fusion ” projects. As a start, we are documenting SCD engagement with young dancers around the world and have asked branches to send us their local information. Note to branch secretaries: please let us know what your Branch is doing to engage more children and young people in Scottish country dancing. We have set up an email address specially for the committee –YSC@rscds.org – and would be happy to hear from you. Other ongoing activities of interest to us include updates of the Dance Scottish teachers pack and the Medal Test syllabus. Spring Fling, held this year in Dundee and St Andrews was a success once again (see the separate report on page 9) and, for the first time we provided an RSCDS exhibition/stall at the Inter Varsity Folk Dance Festival in Aberdeen. Plans for the future include ongoing discussion with the Guides Association about offering tuition at their summer camps, as well as investigating other ways of sharing the Scottish country dancing experience. New Initiative - Oban primary school gives RSCDS a lesson on Scottish country dancing On 24 November 2011, Dunbeg Primary School near Oban, Argyll, gave advice to the RSCDS on how to involve more children and young people in Scottish country dancing. Primary 6 had been supported in conducting original research, from design through ideas development to implementation, to provide primary guidance on strategic direction to engage young dancers. The presentation of findings to Ruth Beattie (Chairman), Elizabeth Foster (Executive Officer), Susan Rhodes (Youth Development Officer) and Roy Bain (Convenor, InterimYouth Services Committee) was lively, informative and engaging. See for yourself on the RSCDS YouTube site at www.youtube.com/therscds. New initiative - Argyll Olympics In June 2012, all secondary schools in Argyll, Scotland will participate in a mini Olympic Games, in which Scottish country dance will play a key role. Some 650 12-14 year olds, plus 100 teaching staff will participate in a mass Olympic-themed dance to launch the games. Devised by Sue Porter, with music composed by David Cunningham, both dance and music will be available on the RSCDS website from the end of April, when all branches will be free to use the dance either for an Olympic-themed event or any other local Branch activity – and to let us know when you do! Remember that we are happy to receive video footage as well as photos or reports (see David Cunningham ’ s article on page 11). As a committee we have much to do and, by November, with your help and participation, I hope we will have established a solid foundation for the first directly elected committee to take the youth remit forward.

The RSCDSstandat the Inter Varsity FolkDance Festival.

RuthBeattiepresents agift to the ‘Highlandcow

’ who hadan important role in the Dunbeg Primary Schoolpresentation. On 16January Irene TownshendandBarbara Johnston, bothteachers withRSCDSEdmonton Caledonian Branch, bravedminus 38degree temperatures to introduce 500children aged5 - 14at the Monsignor Fee Ottterson Schoolto Scotttishcountry dancing. It was a hectic day andthe children hada wonderfultime.