RSCDS Centenary Weekend 4

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.

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 –

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