e Royal Scottish Country Dance Society (RSCDS) is a Scottish Charitable Company, Limited by Guarantee, that promotes and celebrates Scottish country dancing around the world.
The RSCDS is pleased to work in partnership with a range of agencies, organisations and businesses. We gratefully acknowledge their collaboration and appreciate their support.
If you are interested in supporting the work of the Society, through sponsorship or working in partnership, please contact us:
Event Information What is Summer School?
Location Where to find Summer School? 3 ings to do in and around St Andrews
Immerse yourself in a truly Scottish experience in the historic area of St Andrews.
6 Young Dancers’ Week
Programme designed especially for our younger dancers and an opportunity for families to enjoy a dance holiday together.
7 Music
Develop your music skills with some of the best Scottish Country Dance musicians during one of our musician courses.
8 Social Dancing
Accommodation
See all of our accommodation options. 5 Weeks/Classes
Find out more about our classes and what to expect during each week of Summer School.
Show off your dance skills during one of our Social Dancing events.
EVENT INFORMATION
Taking place over four weeks, Summer School is an action-packed RSCDS event full of dancing and music in the historic town of St Andrews. Join with fellow dancers and musicians from around the world for a week or two of classes and social dancing. Summer School is open to both members and non-members.
Throughout the week attendees will be taught by different teachers, enjoy live music, and learn in a new venue so you can experience first-hand the world class atmosphere Summer School has to offer. All dancers will attend a Scottish country dance class of their own ability each morning with different activities taking place in the afternoons.
It is recommended that young dancers under 18yrs attend during Youth Week, taking place during week three, 2nd – 9th August 2026.
LOCATION
e Royal Burgh of St Andrews is located in Fife on Scotland’s east coast. Known around the world as the Home of Golf, St Andrews is also famous for its university, cathedral and castle, with its beautiful historic streets. And of course, as the home of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society’s Summer School for over 90 years. Just half an hour from Dundee and less than two hours from both Glasgow and Edinburgh, St Andrews is accessed by a good road and rail network.
GLASGOW EDINBURGH
ST ANDREWS
THINGS TO DO
Why not visit one of the many attractions on o er during your stay, or maybe even extend your break and enjoy even more of these sights.
www.visitscotland.com/places-to-go/st-andrews
• St Andrews Castle
• Wardlaw Museum
• St Andrews Museum
• St Andrews Cathedral
• Janettas Gelateria
• St Andrews Heritage Museum and Garden
• St Andrews Aquarium
• St Andrews Links
• R&A World Golf Museum
• West Sands beach
Further afield
• V&A Dundee
• Discovery Point and RRS Discovery, Dundee
• Verdant Works, Dundee
• Visit Scotland - Anstruther
• Visit Scotland - Crail
• Visit Scotland - Pittenweem
Dates for your diary
• St Andrews Highland Games – Sunday 26th July 2026
• Pittenweem Arts Festival – 1st - 8th August 2026
ACCOMMODATION
Fully catered on-site accommodation within the University of St Andrews is available in either University Hall or Agnes Blackadder Hall.
All meals are buffet style; please make us aware of any dietary restrictions when booking.
For more information on accommodation please see our Terms & Conditions.
More information and for directions click the link below:
www.st-andrews.ac.uk/accommodation/ug/residences/
Agnes Blackadder Hall
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS
University Hall
Summer School is based in University Hall, Kennedy Gardens. This is a historic building in its own attractive grounds near the University playing fields. The rooms are study bedrooms, either single or twin, many have wash-hand basins, but all other bathroom facilities are shared. Tea and coffee making facilities are available in nearby well-equipped kitchens.
Agnes Blackadder Hall
Formerly New Hall, residents can opt to stay in Agnes Blackadder Hall.
All bedrooms have an en-suite shower room with tea and coffee making facilities and a television. Most of the bedrooms have one double bed and can be occupied by one or two attendees. Agnes Blackadder Hall has a bar, spacious foyer and dining room, where breakfast is served. All other meals are served at University Hall. All university bedrooms are serviced daily and are provided with towels and bedlinen.
This accommodation is for adults only. This venue is approximately a 10-minute walk or a 5-minute drive from University Hall.
Non-residents
Attendees who choose to reside in accommodation other than University Hall or Agnes Blackadder Hall will be considered Non-Resident for the duration of their Summer School booking.
Other University accommodation can be booked directly through the University of St Andrews and there are a number of hotels, B&B and self-catering options available in or near the town.
University Hall
CLASSES
Essential Skills
Participants in this course should be interested in working on the fundamentals of dancing and looking to improve all aspects of their technique. The class will focus on improving footwork and explore social aspects of dancing such as teamwork, the use of hands, phrasing and good eye contact. It will build confidence and understanding of common formations.
Consolidating Skills
This course is for dancers who are more experienced, have a good standard of footwork and technique, and understand good phrasing and teamwork. The class will focus on improving knowledge of dancing, and further developing posture, footwork and team awareness. Dancers must be able to sustain a good level of energy and a commitment to improving their performance.
Challenging High Impact
This course is for dancers who can perform at the highest level of dance, with excellent footwork, handing, and technique and who wish to be challenged further. This is a high impact and physically demanding class which requires a very good level of physical fitness.
CLASSES
Experienced Low Impact
This course is for dancers who no longer wish the physical intensity of high impact but still look for a demanding challenge in the dancing and dances. They will have an excellent understanding and a detailed knowledge of formations and technique. This class would also be suitable for High Impact dancers who have sustained an injury. Dancers should still retain an excellent grasp of the phrasing, social and technical elements of dance.
The course will incorporate low-impact techniques, but those attending should be actively involved in all aspects of dance.
Teaching Skills
This course is for fully certificated teachers, for those who have completed Part 1 of the Teaching Certificate and for instructors who have successfully completed the CTI course. It is expected that class members will actively participate in teaching skills exercises and work on developing their personal dancing as well as their teaching practices. Participants will be encouraged to engage in discussions and share teaching ideas.
Social Low Impact
This Course is for dancers who would prefer to dance socially at a lower, more gentle energy level. Perfect for dancers who still want to learn and develop their skills but may struggle with energy levels required for six full mornings of dance.
Class will include warm up and cool down appropriate for age and mobility, will not include step practice and will have an emphasis on technical aspects of the dance in terms of phrasing, handling, eye contact, team awareness and posture to improve the overall execution of the dance.
Interspersed with short talks from your teacher and musician the class will also include walking SCD with focus on rhythmic movement and appreciation of the music.
YOUNG DANCERS’ WEEK
Taking place during week three of Summer School, dancers under the age of 18 are recommended to attend during Young Dancers’ Week.
Junior Summer Camp
Young people aged between 8 and 11 years of age are welcome to attend a fun and inclusive Junior Summer Camp. Previous dancing experience is not essential and daily activities will include dance classes, crafts, outdoor chalk drawing and outdoor games together with different challenges over the week. Previous activities have included creating a dance, compiling a word board, word searches and a quiz.
Young Dancers' Week
Designed for Young People aged between 12 and 17 years of age, young dancers will attend a class of their ability along with the other Summer School dancers. There will be opportunities for this age group to get together with peers in some afternoons.
MUSICIANS
e Musicians’ Ensemble Course (Week 2)
Learn how to play together as a group for Scottish country dances. Led by some of Scotland’s finest musicians, this course is a perfect place to learn the basics of playing for an evening social dance in a group. The course culminates with all course attendees on stage for the final evening dance of the week in the prestigious Younger Hall. For 2025, the tutors will be Judi Nicolson.
This course requires morning and afternoon participation and is not suitable for ‘morning only’ bookings.
There is a non-resident Musician Course booking option available.
SCHEDULE
Week 1
19th – 26th July 2026
Available classes:
• Essential Skills
• Consolidating Skills
•Challenging High Impact
•Experienced Low Impact
• Teaching Skills
•Social Low Impact
• Teaching CertificateUnits 2 and 3 (candidates are required to attend weeks 1 and 2)
Week 2
26th July – 2nd August 2026
Available classes:
• Essential Skills
• Consolidating Skills
•Challenging High Impact
•Experienced Low Impact
• Teaching CertificateUnits 2 and 3 (candidates are required to attend weeks 1 and 2)
•Musicians’ Ensemble
Week 3 2nd – 9th August 2026
Available classes:
• Essential Skills
• Consolidating Skills
•Challenging High Impact
•Experienced Low Impact
• Teaching Certificate –Unit 5 (candidates are required to attend weeks 3 and 4)
• Youth Week including Junior Summer Camp
Week 4 9th – 16th August 2026
Available classes:
• Essential Skills
• Consolidating Skills
•Challenging High Impact
•Experienced Low Impact
• Teaching Skills
•Social Low Impact
• Teaching CertificateUnit 5 (candidates are required to attend weeks 3 and 4)
Additional activities will be available each afternoon on a sign-up basis and will include Class Musicians (week 2 only), Advanced and Open Step classes and walk throughs for the evening dances.
SOCIAL DANCING
You will nd social dancing taking place on most evenings during Summer School. is is usually held in University Hall, Town Hall and Younger Hall.
Each Thursday evening during Summer School there are public dances in Younger Hall. This is included in the Summer School fees for dancers attending Summer School, (except morning only participants). Any remaining tickets will be released 3 weeks prior to the dance.
*Due to Younger Hall availability, in week 3 the public dance in Younger Hall will take place on Friday 7th August 2026.
Please note that the designated responsible adult is required to accompany young dancers aged 8 – 17 years to all social dances. Only dancers aged 8 years and above may be on the dance floor during social dancing.
Branches and Groups nearby also offer opportunities for social dancing during Summer School and details will be available from the RSCDS
Office in University Hall.
FUN, FITNESS AND FRIENDSHIP
Summer School exceeded any expectations I might have had. I discovered Scottish country dancing ten years ago; it was love at first sight!
This was my very first time at Summer School, and I could not have asked for a more wonderful and memorable experience! " “
Morning classes were the perfect combination of challenging but still fun, and always with a good sense of humour.
I made so many friends of all ages and from all over the world, and got to dance so many wonderful dances with wonderful people to wonderful music.
Whether jumping on the dance floor, exploring the beautiful Botanical Gardens or enjoying a delicious scoop of ice cream at Janetta’s, St. Andrews is a place that has captured a piece of my heart, and I am sure to be back again!
I would highly recommend summer school to anyone who Scottish country dances, regardless of their age or ability. " “
TO BOOK YOUR SUMMER SCHOOL HOLIDAY IN THE HISTORIC TOWN OF ST ANDREWS
