RSCDS Edinburgh Dancing Forth Autumn 2023

Issue 15

September 2023—February 2024

Dance Scottish for fun, fitness & friendship

“Dancing Forth” is the regular magazine of RSCDS Edinburgh. The copy date for the next edition is 1st December 2023, contributions should be sent to: dancingforth@rscdsedinburgh.org

fun, fitness and friendship

We celebrated the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III on 6 May 2023 in style at Greyfriars Kirk with music from James Coutts and his Scottish dance band.

Guests were welcomed by our piper, playing ”Amor Terrae Nostrae” which had been played earlier in the day by the massed pipes and drums in Buckingham Palace Gardens.

With thanks to Grant Bulloch for the images from our Centenary Dance.

All other images are ©RSCDS Edinburgh

From the Trustees 2024 will be a very special year for RSCDS Edinburgh Branch as we celebrate our own centenary - 100 years of dancing in Edinburgh.

Our Trustees are busy lining up a programme of events to celebrate the occasion, with something for everyone, no matter how long you have been dancing or whether you just like to watch and listen to the music.

Plans already include a Centenary Ball on Saturday 4 May in Greyfriars Kirk, dancing to the legendary Iain MacPhail and his Scottish dance band, along with an Afternoon Tea dance on Saturday 1 June at the Walpole Hall. Other celebrations will soon be announced and we hope to see you joining us at many of these events, in addition to our many regular events that you already enjoy. There has never been a better time to be a part of the RSCDS. Ahead of our Centenary, we are approaching our Annual General Meeting in September and we are looking forward to many of our members joining us for some lively discussions.

Sadly, Ken Lawson passed away earlier this year (see page 9) and his wife Christine has decided to take a step back from being our Membership Secretary. If you are interested in taking on this role, or helping us in some other way, as a Trustee or a volunteer, we would love to hear from you. Our Trustees work well together as a team, we don’t spend all the time making difficult decisions - we like to have fun too!

The Agenda for our Annual General Meeting is enclosed with this magazine. Our Trustees Report, Annual Accounts and other AGM documents are available for members to access via our website.

Lastly, our children and adult classes are about to restart for the autumn and winter sessions. It would be wonderful if you could be our ambassadors and to tell your friends of your love of Scottish dancing and its music. Encourage them to come along and help us to grow our Branch as we move into a new century of Scottish dancing.

3 Who knew HM The King likes a complicated dance!

Alex Dyet and I were delighted to attend this year’s Royal Garden Party at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on behalf of Edinburgh Branch. The invitation arrived at the beginning of June and we began to make preparations – in particular making a note of the long range weather forecast!

A week before the event, we were somewhat worried that the forecast was for thunder and lightning, but did not concern ourselves too much as we were sure that it would change as we got closer to the day. It didn’t.

On the morning of the party it was overcast but dry so we set off armed with golf umbrellas and crossed fingers. As we arrived it started raining and this continued for most of the afternoon. We all gathered under our umbrellas in the area surrounding the Royal Tea tent, watched a pipe band play and waiting for the Royal Party to appear. After a while Queen Camilla appeared on the far side of the area; but then disappeared into the Royal Tea tent with several officials.

At this point we decided that the Royal walkabout was over but then spotted King Charles making his way to our side of the crowd. After a short while, he approached Alex and me and, after shaking hands, said that he hoped we weren’t too wet and asked which organisation we were there to represent. We chatted briefly about the RSCDS and the number of dances available. He said he liked the complicated ones, before moving on. The rain intensified shortly after that so we decided to leave. In spite of the rain it was an interesting and enjoyable afternoon that we will both remember for a long time.

Stephen Carr

Happy Dancing!

Our Chairman and Trustees putting their teamwork skills to the test decorating our venue with bunting ahead of our Ball.

“A truly wonderful way to celebrate a once in a lifetime event!”

Dancers from around the world came together to celebrate the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles and Queen Camilla.

Our Chairman, David Watson, proposed a Loyal Toast to HM The King before the dancing started with amazing music to dance to from James Coutts and his Scottish dance band. One of our dancers sums the evening up saying “Our annual ball is always a great evening but this was one of the friendliest, most enjoyable evenings.”

The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society (Edinburgh Branch) is a charity promoting the fun, fitness and friendship of Scottish country dancing since 1924.

Website: YouTube: Facebook: Twitter: Instagram: Email:

www.rscdsedinburgh.org www.youtube.com/RSCDSEdinburgh www.facebook.com/RSCDSEdinburgh @dancingforth RSCDS Edinburgh info@rscdsedinburgh.org Join in the conversation

Find us on Facebook; Follow us on Twitter; Like us on Instagram; Watch us on YouTube.

RSCDS Centenary Weekend The RSCDS Centenary Ball took place at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh on 25 March 2023. We supported the celebrations with a sparkling Centenary Dance the evening before the ball, and a wonderful Concert of dance music on the day.

With thanks to Helen McGinley for allowing us to publish her article about the Centenary weekend.

The Scottish Country Dance Society (later Royal) was founded in 1923 so this year there are a number of centenary events. The Centenary Ball was held on the last Saturday in March and Edinburgh Branch held a dance the night before and a concert on the Saturday lunchtime – a weekend not to be missed!

The Branch dance was held in the beautiful St Cuthbert’s Church at the foot of the Castle rock. As John reminded me , this was not the first time he and I had danced in a church, but at least this one had most of the pews removed! I was somewhat disconcerted, when I stepped up during the second dance, to discover that the floor sloped downhill, but I certainly had no other complaints about the venue. Ewan Galloway’s 6-piece band provided wonderful music and, at the interval, we were treated to anniversary cake and a glass of fizz. It was brilliant to dance with over 100 others who knew what they were doing and who covered with their partner, the other dancers in their set and the other sets in the hall.

4 she, Peter and Robert Mackay shared the piano bench and played together for The Triumph, which I danced with Ann Dix, on the only occasion I’ve been to Winter School. As Ann has since died, it is a much-treasured memory.

The venue for the RSCDS Centenary Ball was the stunning Edinburgh Assembly Rooms which have been on George Street for over 200 years. On arrival we were all handed a beautifully-produced souvenir programme containing the dance cribs and diagrams, and a centenary whisky glass, then a glass of prosecco when we went upstairs. The formalities began with welcome speeches by RSCDS Chair William Williamson and Depute Lord Provost Councillor Lezley Marion Cameron, and a toast to absent friends by Chair Elect Gary Coull. Dancing took place in both the Ballroom, to David Oswald’s band, and the Music Room, to Marian Anderson’s band. In the interval, tea/coffee and a slice of anniversary cake was provided. There was plenty of room for the 400 dancers because of the use of the two spaces, but it wasn’t easy to find people. I only discovered that my friend Annabel was there while we were queuing to retrieve our coats afterwards! I danced the first half in the Music Room since that’s where my Belfast friends started the evening, and most of the second half in the Ballroom. Everyone came together in the latter for Auld Lang Syne at the end.

The weekend was full of pleasures, both anticipated – haggis for lunch at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, tea with John’s sister Morag, and the dancing, of course – and unexpected – the Scots Guardsman steaming into Waverley as we took a short cut through the station.

Whoever decided to hold the ball on the night the clocks went forward needs a severe talking to but, other than osing an hour’s sleep, and delayed flights in both directions, I had a fantastic time. Here’s to the next 100 years of Scottish dancing!

You can read more of Helen’s dancing travels at: www.dublinscdclub.wordpress.com The Branch organised a special concert of dance music, played by some of the leading musicians of Scottish dance, to celebrate the RSCDS Centenary on the day of the Centenary Ball. Our four musicians—Muriel Johnstone (piano), Pete Clark (fiddle), Tim Macdonald (fiddle) and Peter Shand (piano) provided a wonderfully informative programme, with notes giving insight into the history and styles of the tunes, which was a great addition to the pleasure of their playing. Read about Tim’s experience on Page 5.

The concert was held in another attractive church, this time Canongate Kirk. We were welcomed by a piper and treated to just over an hour of fabulous, carefully chosen, Scottish dance music by Muriel Johnstone (piano), Pete Clark (fiddle), Tim Macdonald (fiddle) and Peter Shand (piano).

They didn’t want to take up time by talking, Muriel said in her introduction, so they had provided very informative written notes. Some sets were played by all four musicians, some by just two, and one, which included City of Belfast, by Muriel on her own. Muriel and Peter swapped instruments but I was reminded of the first time I heard Muriel play live – With grateful thanks to our many sponsors for their ongoing invaluable support.

What’s on

5

Sunday Socials with Dunedin Dancers Sundays 1 October, 5 November, 4 February and 3 March Craigmillar Park Church Hall, Craigmillar Park, Edinburgh, EH16 5LZ Dancing to Màrtainn Skene, Ewan Galloway, Iain MacPhail and Matthew Maclennan Join us for a fun afternoon with our friends at Dunedin Dancers. All ages are welcome at these events, so long as you have a reasonable knowledge of basic formations.

Christmas Dance Saturday 9 December Greyfriars Charteris Centre, 138/140 Pleasance, Edinburgh, EH8 9RR Dancing to Matthew Maclennan and his Scottish dance band We've a programme of popular dances and fantastic music from Matthew and his band.

Always a favourite on the dancing calendar!

Christmas Party Tuesday 12 December Barclay Viewforth Church Hall, 1 Wright’s House, Edinburgh, EH10 4HR Musician to be advised Our Christmas Party Night is always a fun evening no matter how long you have been dancing.

It’s a great chance to meet dancers from our other classes at this relaxed and friendly evening.

Our classes for Young Dancers are back at Greenbank Church Hall on Saturday mornings P1 and above

9:30 - 10:15 am

Saturday mornings

Our youngest dancers learn music, rhythm and movement to music, offering children the chance to enjoy Scottish country dancing and ceilidh music in a fun environment, meeting new friends and learning the basic shapes of formations and some fun easy dances.

P5 and above

Join us online and enjoy soft shoe Step Workshops from the comfort of your home

10:15 - 11:00 am

Leading on from this, as the children gain more experience, they develop their knowledge of Scottish country dance formations and steps while continuing to expand their knowledge of dances.

10.00—11.30 am UK time

Online Step (soft shoe) Workshop for those with some previous experience.

Sunday evenings

6.00—7.30 pm UK time

This class is aimed at dancers with no or little previous experience although some knowledge of Scottish country dancing or ballet will be helpful.

All classes are taught by Atsuko Clement, and a recording of each class is available to participants so you can practice at home.

Find out more at www.rscdsedinburgh.org The musicians view of the Centenary Concert from Tim Macdonald, fiddler: Miss Milligan told us that ‘The music is the stimulus of the dance’, and so it was wonderful for the Branch to complement all the dancing of the Centenary Weekend with a concert in Canongate Kirk.

Dancers (and non-dancers!) had a chance to rest their feet and focus on the Society’s wonderful tradition of tunes without the extra responsibility of dancing. However, this proved to be a programming challenge for us musicians! Squeezing a hundred years of music into an hour-long concert, representing everything we thought should be represented, and doing it without the guideposts of programmed dances was a fun new problem to consider.

Muriel Johnstone bookended the concert with two historical medleys—one of Book One tunes, the other a ten-tune mega-set with one tune from each decade of the Society’s existence. The rest of us chose tunes to highlight various music composers, dance leaders, and tune genres that have made Scottish country dance music what it is. As someone who’s only been fiddling for dances since Book 45 was published, it was special to work with musicians who have such a deep history with the RSCDS , learn about older tunes and traditions, and get to play such stimulating music with such fine exponents of the genre!

Sep-23 2 RSCDS Edinburgh 6 Dunedin Dancers 12 Atholl SCD Club 20 Currie SCD Club 25 RSCDS Edinburgh 27 Greenbank Church SCD Club 30 Trinity SCD Club Oct-23 1 RSCDS Edinburgh 2 Morningside SCD Club 6 RSCDS East Lothian 14 RSCDS Edinburgh 14 Trinity SCD Club 15 Dunedin Dancers 16 RSCDS Edinburgh 21 RSCDS Edinburgh 28 Trinity SCD Club Nov-23 3-4 RSCDS 5 RSCDS Edinburgh 10 RSCDS East Lothian 11 Trinity SCD Club 18 Trinity SCD Club 19 Dunedin Dancers 25 Dunedin Dancers Dec-23 2 Trinity SCD Club 4 RSCDS Edinburgh 4 Morningside SCD Club 6 Greenbank Church SCD Club 8 RSCDS Dunfermline 8 RSCDS East Lothian 9 RSCDS Edinburgh 9 RSCDS Edinburgh 11 Morningside SCD Club 12 Atholl SCD Club 13 Currie SCD Club 12 RSCDS Edinburgh 13 Dunedin Dancers 16 Trinity SCD Club 12 Atholl SCD Club Jan-24 6 Trinity SCD Club 8 RSCDS Edinburgh 2 Morningside SCD Club 9 Atholl SCD Club 10 Dunedin Dancers 10 Greenbank Church SCD Club 12 RSCDS East Lothian 13 RSCDS Edinburgh 20 Trinity SCD Club Glasgow Craigmillar Park Church Hall, Craigmillar Park Northesk Church Hall, Musselburgh, EH21 6AG Inverleith St Serf's, Ferry Road Inverleith St Serf's, Ferry Road Craigmillar Park Church Hall, Craigmillar Park Reid Memorial Church Hall, West Saville Terrace Reid Memorial Church Hall, West Saville Terrace 19.30-22.30 Frank Thomson Mon - AdvBeg; Tues - Beg & Int; Thurs - Adv Braid Hall, Braid Road 19.40-21.40 Matthew Maclennan Greenbank Church Hall, Braidburn Terr The Glen Pavillion, Dunfermline Community Hall, East Linton 19.30 Graeme Munro Greenbank Church Hall, Braidburn Terr 09.30 - 11.00 Charteris Centre, 138/140 Pleasance 19.30-22.30 Matthew Maclennan Braid Hall, Braid Road 19.40-21.40 Matthew Maclennan Craigmillar Park Church Hall, 2 Craigmillar Park 19.30-21.45 Iain MacPhail Juniper Green Village Hall, Juniper Park Rd 19.30-21.30 Iain MacPhail Barclay Viewforth Church Hall, 1 Wright's Houses 20.00 - 21.45 St Matthew Hall, Morningside Parish Church Hall 19.30 - 21.30 Various Inverleith St Serf's, Ferry Road 19.30-22.30 James Coutts Craigmillar Park Church Hall, 2 Craigmillar Park 19.30-21.45 Iain MacPhail Inverleith St Serf's, Ferry Road Mon - AdvBeg; Tues - Beg & Int; Thurs - Adv Braid Hall, Braid Road Craigmillar Park Church Hall, 2 Craigmillar Park St Matthew Hall, Morningside Parish Church Hall Greenbank Church Hall, Braidburn Terr Port Seton Community Centre Greenbank Church Hall, Braidburn Terr Inverleith St Serf's, Ferry Road

Autumn Gathering Sunday Social with Dunedin Dancers Monthly Dance Club Night Club Night Advanced Dancing Session Autumn Dance

Club Night Adult Classes end Weekly Club nights end Club Nights end Annual Ball Monthly Dance Children's Classes ends Christmas Dance Christmas Party Weekly Club nights end Club Nights end Christmas Party Weekly Social Dancing ends Club Night Christmas Party

Club Night Adult Classes restart Weekly Club nights restart Weekly Club nights restart Weekly Social Dancing restarts Club Nights restart New Year Buffet Dance Children's Classes restart Club Night

Marian Anderson

Nicol McLaren

19.30 Iain MacPhail 09.30 - 11.00 19.30-22.30 Ewan Galloway

19.40-21.40 Matthew Maclennan 19.30-21.45 Iain MacPhail 19.30 - 21.30 Various

19.30-22.30

14.30 - 16.30 Ewan Galloway 19.30 Marian Anderson 19.30-22.30 Jim Lindsay 19.30-22.30 Stuart Anderson 14.30 - 16.30 19.30 - 21.30 Aidan Frost

19.30-22.30

19.30-22.30 Stuart Anderson 14.30 - 16.30

14.30 - 16.30 Màrtainn Skene 19.40-21.40 Matthew Maclennan 19.30 Aidan Frost

Sandy Nixon

Craigmillar Park Church Hall, Craigmillar Park Braid Hall, Braid Road Northesk Church Hall, Musselburgh, EH21 6AG No classes this week Inverleith St Serf's, Ferry Road Craigmillar Park Church Hall, Craigmillar Park No classes this week No classes this week Inverleith St Serf's, Ferry Road

19.30-22.30

Sunday Social with Dunedin Dancers Weekly Club nights restart Welcome Dance Children's Classes MID - TERM Club Night Advanced Dancing Session Adult Classes MID - TERM Children's Classes MID - TERM Club Night

09.30 - 11.00 19.30 - 21.30 Various 19.30-21.45 Iain MacPhail 19.30-21.30 Iain MacPhail

Greenbank Church Hall, Braidburn Terr St Matthew Hall, Morningside Parish Church Hall Craigmillar Park Church Hall, 2 Craigmillar Park Juniper Green Village Hall, Juniper Park Rd Mon - AdvBeg; Tues - Beg & Int; Thurs - Adv Greenbank Church Hall, Braidburn Terr Inverleith St Serf's, Ferry Road

Children's Classes restart Weekly Social Dancing restarts Weekly Club nights restart Club Nights restart Adult Classes restart Club Nights restart Club Night info@rscdsedinburgh.org secretary@morningsideclub.com events@rscdseastlothian.org.uk info@rscdsedinburgh.org secretary.trinityscdc@gmail.com enquiries@dunedindancers.org.uk info@rscdsedinburgh.org info@rscdsedinburgh.org secretary.trinityscdc@gmail.com

Alex Duncan secretary.trinityscdc@gmail.com Elizabeth Harry 07505 703828 info@rscdsedinburgh.org Sandra Shaw secretary@morningsideclub.com Ian Coulter 07804 919866 athollscdc.secretary@gmail.com Caroline Brockbank enquiries@dunedindancers.org.uk Helen Millar 0131 477 9734 helenmillar1@yahoo.co.uk Iain MacNeil events@rscdseastlothian.org.uk Elizabeth Harry 07505 703828 info@rscdsedinburgh.org Alex Duncan secretary.trinityscdc@gmail.com

Alex Duncan secretary.trinityscdc@gmail.com Elizabeth Harry 07505 703828 info@rscdsedinburgh.org Sandra Shaw secretary@morningsideclub.com Helen Millar 0131 477 9734 helenmillar1@yahoo.co.uk Trish Paton 01383 659923 secretary@rscds-dline.org.uk Iain MacNeil events@rscdseastlothian.org.uk Elizabeth Harry 07505 703828 info@rscdsedinburgh.org Elizabeth Harry 07505 703828 info@rscdsedinburgh.org Sandra Shaw secretary@morningsideclub.com Ian Coulter 07804 919866 athollscdc.secretary@gmail.com Sylvia Dalgleish 0131 449 6262 Elizabeth Harry 07505 703828 info@rscdsedinburgh.org Caroline Brockbank enquiries@dunedindancers.org.uk Alex Duncan secretary.trinityscdc@gmail.com Ian Coulter 07804 919866 athollscdc.secretary@gmail.com

RSCDS 0131 225 3854 info@rscds.org Elizabeth Harry 07505 703828 info@rscdsedinburgh.org Iain MacNeil events@rscdseastlothian.org.uk Alex Duncan secretary.trinityscdc@gmail.com Alex Duncan secretary.trinityscdc@gmail.com Caroline Brockbank enquiries@dunedindancers.org.uk Caroline Brockbank enquiries@dunedindancers.org.uk

Elizabeth Harry 07505 703828 Sandra Shaw Iain MacNeil Elizabeth Harry 07505 703828 Alex Duncan Caroline Brockbank Elizabeth Harry 07505 703828 Elizabeth Harry 07505 703828 Alex Duncan

Elizabeth Harry 07505 703828 info@rscdsedinburgh.org Caroline Brockbank enquiries@dunedindancers.org.uk Ian Coulter 07804 919866 athollscdc.secretary@gmail.com Sylvia Dalgleish 0131 449 6262 Elizabeth Harry 07505 703828 info@rscdsedinburgh.org Helen Millar 0131 477 9734 helenmillar1@yahoo.co.uk Alex Duncan secretary.trinityscdc@gmail.com

Dancers Diary 6

Classes for everyone

7

Adult Classes Autumn Term: w/c 25 September for 10 weeks

Class

Day

Time

Venue

Teacher

Musician

Beginners

Tuesday

8.00— 9.30 pm

Greenbank Parish Church (Upper Hall)

Theresa MacVarish

Roddy Johnston

Advanced Beginners

Monday

8.00— 9.30 pm

Murrayfield Parish Church, Ormidale Terrace, EH12 6EQ

Yoshi Shibasaki

Ewan Galloway

Intermediate

Tuesday

8.00— 9.30 pm

Barclay Viewforth, 1 Wrights Houses, EH10 4HR

Rachel Shankland/ Andrew Nolan

Seonaid Lynn

Advanced

Thursday

8.00 — 9.30 pm

Murrayfield Parish Church, Ormidale Terrace, EH12 6EQ

Elizabeth Harry

Various

What does it cost?

RSCDS Edinburgh Members Non-Members 10 week term Beginners & Advanced

£75.00*

£90.00* £48.00

“Everything that is advertised like ‘fitness and fun, and make new friends’ is so true, I look forward to my class every week. I love it!” * Dancers in our Intermediate and Advanced classes are welcome to purchase a “class pass”. This is for a minimum of 5 weeks, and must be used within one 10 week term. Please ask at your first class.

Pay online for the term or at your first class

Class Descriptions—If you are unsure which class is best for you please speak with any of our teachers or contact us for advice. Our teachers will be able to suggest which of our classes would be most suitable and give you the most enjoyment.

We are happy for you to transfer between classes to find the right level for you.

Beginners

Open to all who have little or no experience of Scottish country dancing. You will learn basic steps and simple formations including reels and some corner formations. By the end of the term you will be able to dance many Scottish country and ceilidh dances.

Advanced Beginners

Aimed at Dancers who have previously completed a Beginners class, or who are returning to dancing after a long period, and have limited footwork and knowledge of formations. You will want to improve your technique, learn more complex formations and increase your own ability.

Intermediate

This energetic class is designed for dancers who are already familiar with core movements of Scottish country dancing and who have attended at least one Advanced Beginner class or been dancing regularly for over two years. You should be able to dance the steps and many of the key formations such as Allemande, Promenade and Ladies chain.

Advanced

This class will improve your footwork, rhythm, phrasing and technique so that your dancing will be of a high standard; this will involve some constructive critiquing of your dancing.

Our Autumn term classes restart during the week commencing 25 September.

Full details will be available on our website www.rscdsedinburgh.org/classes Keep in touch… you can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Search for RSCDSEdinburgh or use the hashtag #DanceScottish and be a part of the conversation.

Make sure you’ve signed up to get our regular eUpdates too and keep up to date with all our news and events between issues of Dancing Forth.

News from our friends

8

'New Scotland' celebrates 75 years

Dunedin Festival 2023

On Friday 17 March at Lauriston Halls in Edinburgh, the Edinburgh University New Scotland Country Dance Society (known affectionately as 'New Scotland') celebrated its 75th anniversary, with a black tie ball to the wonderful music of Iain MacPhail.

For a long weekend at the start of July, Belgian and Spanish visitors descended on Edinburgh for the Dunedin Dancers’ 26th International Folk Dance Festival.

Formed in May 1947 as the ‘New Scotland Society’, aiming ‘to examine and arouse interest in the political and cultural renaissance in Scotland’, the society included Scottish country dancing among its other interests which covered the arts and politics of Scotland. However, by 1951 it had become clear that most of the members were only interested in dancing! The society was therefore reconstituted with the name changed to the ‘Edinburgh University New Scotland Country Dance Society’. The society has remained in this form ever since, although our dancing repertoire has now expanded to include ceilidh, Highland and Scottish step dancing as well as country dancing.

The Festival was based at Edinburgh Academy Junior School, where we and the visiting groups shared our traditions with daytime workshops and evening ceilidhs. Our visitors were mostly hosted in members’ homes and we all ate together at the school, treating our guests to a Burns Supper on the final night, complete with entertainment.

Our visiting dancers this year were Agrupaciàn Folklàrica Celme from Pontevedra, in the Galician region of Spain. Their energetic dancing was accompanied by exuberant singing, tambourines, and sometimes by accordion and Galician bagpipes. They wore their Gala dress - by far the most elaborate of their costumes, as worn by the upper classes, with each of their thirty crystal-encrusted gala costumes coming from a different Galician region.

Our Belgian guests were not dancers but flag wavers - Vendeliersgilde en tamboerkorps Gelmelzwaaiers from Hoogstraten in the Flanders region of Belgium. Vendelzwaaien - loosely translated as Flag Waving - is an old traditional artform originating from the medieval guilds and town militias, and still practiced in Flanders. Large flags with weighted handles are used in a stunning, synchronised display accompanied by their drum corps. The sight of the performers flinging their huge red and white flags into the air and catching them again was spectacular indeed.

At our anniversary celebration ball we were delighted to welcome nearly 90 current and former members and friends. The programme was full of fun easy dances and old favourites so that even our newest members could enjoy the evening, and also those who were maybe feeling a little rusty in their dancing! There were past members from every decade back to the 1960s and multiple dancing generations with lots of enthusiastic young dancers. Our youngest attendee was only 4 months old - a potential future member?! The atmosphere was lively and fun with some attending a ball for the first time while others were re-remembering again how much fun it is to dance.

The music provided by Iain MacPhail, an Honorary President of the Society, and his talented band, was excellent. The traditional 'bring and share' buffet had a wonderful spread and was topped off by a specially commissioned 75th anniversary cake. Many thanks to everyone who attended and made the evening such a success!

Rachel Wignell

Membership of RSCDS Edinburgh allows you to be part of a community of dancers both locally and worldwide and supports Scottish country dancing in Edinburgh and beyond.

Members benefit from a range of discounts and exclusive deals, as well as helping the continuation of the Scottish country dance tradition.

Membership fees for 2023—2024 are now due and you can pay online via our website.

Adult £35 Joint £60 Youth £30

Meanwhile the ‘home team’ provided a contrast, as Dunedin and New Scotland treated our audiences to a display of all forms of Scottish dancing - predominantly Scottish Country dancing, but also Ceilidh, Highland and Step. Those of you who came to watch our performances will no doubt have spotted some favourite dances of your own among our eclectic selection.

We were delighted to see so many Branch members and friends in the audience at the Grassmarket on the Friday, the Ross Bandstand in Princes Street Gardens on Saturday, and at the Magnusson Centre in Edinburgh Academy on the Saturday evening. Those who were brave enough to stay for the short ceilidh session after the evening showcase performance no doubt enjoyed the music even if there wasn’t much space to dance. We were lucky to have an excellent lineup of musicians to play for us throughout the festival so a big thank you to them, and also to our very own pipe band who led the parades.

We were incredibly blessed with the weather – with most of our performances being outdoors we were anxiously watching the forecasts. On the Sunday we took our guests to perform with us at Stirling Castle. Dunedin tradition has it that the is weather always good at Stirling, and once again our prayers were answered. The audience lined the Queen Anne Lawn, or else climbed up for a bird’s eye view from the battlements, of the final Belgian, Spanish and Scottish performances in such a memorable setting.

Caroline Brockbank

Sadly Missed Ken Lawson

9 Edinburgh Branch has sadly lost Ken Lawson, who not only danced in the branch Demonstration Group but was an exceptional Highland Dancer. He passed on his skills by teaching Highland to New Scotland and more recently Edinburgh Branch Highland Class. He has also been serving as a Trustee, and our Membership Secretary with his wife Christine.

At six years old Ken joined the Jean Reynolds School of Dance in Edinburgh, where he danced with her troupe for several years. His parents took him to various Highland Games where he competed, winning a number of cups and medals and coming second in the Under Sixteen group of the World Highland Dance Championship. When his family moved from Edinburgh to Linlithgow he joined the Harthill District Scottish Country Dance Club. He danced with Jimmy Shand and toured with The White Heather Club (much to his mother's dismay, as he left school to join them!)

As an adult, Ken joined the Edinburgh Branch Demonstration team, appearing in An Edinburgh Fancy at the Royal High School, along with Alec Black, Bob Grant and Stanley Wilkie. He partnered Sheila MacPherson, Kate Ross, Evelyn Wilson and many others. In the 1960s , he danced at Holyrood Palace for the late Queen, and later for King Hussain of Jordan in 1966 and the President of the Italian Republic in 1969. He also performed at Edinburgh City Chambers for Prime Minister Kosygin of Russia in 1967, as well as at the Kremlin on a trip to Russia. Ken represented Edinburgh Branch and Scotland in many other countries and festivals, including in Edinburgh at the opening of the Commonwealth Games in 1970. Highland Dancing was Ken’s passion.

“I will never forget Ken and his dancing. His highland dancing was wholly magical and I could hardly take my eyes off his feet. He seemed to have no nerves about anything he danced.’”

Richard Austin In his working life Ken sold commercial vehicles to haulage contractors. It was while working at Central Garage, Bathgate that he met his future wife Sharon and they were married in June 1972. They had one daughter, Leighanne, who has two children Elle and Dennis and now lives with her family in Tenerife. Sadly, Sharon was diagnosed with MS and to help care for her, Ken gave up his job and bought an Edinburgh black taxi so that he could suit his hours to fit in with family and the carers who looked after her. Sharon died in 1995.

During this time Ken lost touch with his country dancing friends but he was eventually persuaded to return a couple of years later. On his return to dancing he met up with Christine, whom he had known for a number of years, and eventually they became an ‘item’.

In 2000 they decided to change careers and bought The Spindrift Guest House in Anstruther. They had 18 successful years there: it was hard work with long hours, but they still found time to make good friends with guests, staff and local people. Together they won several awards from Visit Scotland plus Les Routiers Guest House of the Year in 2013. Ken was awarded the Scots Porridge Oats Championship in 2003, the year they got married. He was also involved in organising the Anstruther Floral Displays, and in particular the Anstruther Harbour Festival, where he was Chairman. He made sure our Demonstration Team from Edinburgh was included in the Scottish Show held in the Scottish Fisheries Museum each year, a tradition which continues. Ken and Christine retired from The Spindrift in October 2018 and moved to Lundin Links, joining the local bowling club where they soon made new friends.

Ken had major heart surgery in December last year. He made a slow recovery, but by the end of February felt well enough to celebrate his 80th birthday at the beginning of March when he had a great day with family and friends. Ken died suddenly at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy on 17 April. The church service to celebrate his life was held in Anstruther, and was very well attended by family and friends from the country dancing world, along with his many friends from the East Neuk, Edinburgh, Lundin Links and West Lothian.

He will be hugely missed by everyone, and our thoughts are with Christine and their families. Thanks for the memories Ken! Also, sadly missed is: Ian Chuter—a life member of Edinburgh Branch who danced in our Demonstration team and served on our committee.

Can you spare us some time?

Our Branch shop is looking for a volunteer to keep the stock and post it out to purchasers, and bring it along to some Branch events. You don’t need any previous experience; just a bit of space to store the stock and a willingness to help.

Please contact us to find out what is involved and how you can help us—info@rscdsedinburgh.org

News

10

Dr Robbie Shepherd MBE was Edinburgh Branch’s longest serving Honorary Vice-President, having accepted this role over 25 years ago. He has been a fantastic ambassador for Scottish dance and its music and a great supporter of us in Edinburgh. He will be much missed. Here Iain MacPhail pays tribute to him.

Memories of Robbie Shepherd; A man o’ Pairts Robbie Shepherd, who has died at the age of 87, played a significant part in keeping the Scottish music and dance flame burning brightly on the BBC Radio Scotland show ‘Take the Floor’.

Scottish dance music has had distinctive announcers over many years – from the formal voice of Bill Jack, the mellifluous tones of David Findlay to the Doric of Robbie Shepherd. Each had their own presentational styles to further the music and dance of Scotland.

Robbie was a chartered management accountant in addition to his broadcasting career of 35 years. Alongside ‘Take the Floor’, he worked on television with the ‘Beechgrove Garden’, presented sheepdog trials and provided commentary on highland games, particularly those at Braemar which were attended by the Royal Family. He was also a writer of ceilidh dances and contributed a newspaper column in Doric.

I first met Robbie in August 1980 when the band was broadcasting from Elgin Town Hall. We arrived at the venue, set up our musical equipment, did a sound check with the BBC Staff and watched the hall filling rapidly with the invited audience.

There was no sign of producer Chris Worrall or announcer David Findlay who were travelling together by car from Glasgow.

We were not to know that they had been involved in a road accident. With minutes to spare before going on air, in came Robbie Shepherd who had been summoned from Radio Aberdeen for his first ‘Take the Floor’.

We went on to do many outside broadcasts presented by Robbie with a wide geographical spread across the United Kingdom.

We did several in Edinburgh – from Edinburgh University and Princes Street Gardens, to Holyroodhouse when celebrating the late Queen’s Golden Jubilee.

In any live broadcasting event, there is always potential for chaos. Throughout our times together, Robbie always presented as calm, unflustered and professional, testament to the diligent preparation he applied to every programme.

There was always a warmth about Robbie. He aimed to present traditional dance music and performers in the best possible light. He loved his North East culture – his first album of bothy ballads was issued by EMI in 1973 and he was renowned for his distinctive Doric accent.

Robbie played his significant part in keeping Scottish dance and music to the forefront in the ever-changing times – across the world, wherever Scots congregate.

Iain MacPhail Demonstration News Our team were thrilled to make a return visit to the Anstruther Harbour Festival celebrating 100 years of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society with a performance of Scottish dance and music.

One of the country’s leading sports injury centres Centre for Sport and Exercise

Dances included The Reel of the 51st Division, The Jubilee Jig and The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh . We were delighted to be joined by Iain MacPhail and his Scottish dance band, Katie Moore (Highland dancer) and Jamie Crawford (Piper).

The University of Edinburgh 46 Pleasance Edinburgh EH8 8TL 0131 650 2578 For all sports related injuries, including Scottish country dancing. Facilities open to all members of RSCDS Edinburgh Branch at reduced rates.

Want to advertise in Dancing Forth—contact us at dancingforth@rscdsedinburgh.org

We were excited to have been part of the RSCDS Book 53 for 2023 project. It seemed to be a secret for a very long time, however the dance The Water of Leith has been included within the RSCDS Centenary publication.

Our team took on the challenge to record the dance beside the Water of Leith. We had to contend with people out running, walking dogs, the slope and tiny stones all over the road. We also had to be quick so that there was continuity with the setting sun!

We hope you enjoy these backstage shots, including when it all goes a wee bit wrong.

Demonstration Team News

11

Anstruther Harbour Festival 2023, with our Demonstration team, Iain Danceand December 2022 MacPhail and his Scottish dance band, Christmas Jamie Crawford Katie Moore

See Page 8

Above: Our team alongside the Water of Leith Below: A bit of a wobbly bow and curtsey!

Iain MacPhail and his band celebrating 50 years of his Grand Dance 2021 broadcasting career with BBC Radio Scotland at Take the Floor

Our Demonstration team dancing Petronella at the broadcast

RSCDS Centenary events in Edinburgh #RSCDS100

Summer Dance 2022

Summer dancing at St Mary’s Cathedral ©RSCDS Edinburgh 2023 Thank you to the many members who contribute to make each edition of Dancing Forth possible.