Well, the winter wardrobe is being put away and the summer dance gear has been hurriedly shaken out and reinstated on the hangers. The last two weeks has seen so many other changes too; both good and bad. Sadly, several more of our regular dancers have been injured, ill or operated on...we miss them all and hope they get better soon. In the meantime however, it's been exciting to welcome even more new faces to the Monday class. Most of our new people have never danced before, but they seem to be enjoying the classes and making plans to join us regularly. Great! I've also been ringing the changes with the introduction of some lovely new dances to the Tuesday night programme- it's very easy, and very enjoyable to repeat the same, well loved, dances every week, but it's also very easy to lose the skills involved in learning - not to mention the skills of teaching. I usually keep a dance on the programme for 3 weeks before changing it for a new one -preferably a dance we haven't done recently though there's always a core of well known regulars. Over the last few weeks however, we've tackled several brand new dances (to our class) that I came across at Winter School; they've been well liked, so far, so this week we have a brand new reel to try, the Tri-Mariner. The number of videos of this dance shows how popular it is in the rest of the world so hopefully it'll be popular here too. I'm already looking forward to everyone trying it!
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What a crazy, fun night! Tuesday evening's session started out with us realising that, although several of our most regular and experienced dancers were away, we were lucky enough to be simultaneously welcoming back several others, who we hadn't seen for ages. Although we had our lowest numbers for several weeks, and many of our dancers were seriously out of practice, it was a great atmosphere from the word go. The programme was danced right through- without a lot of style in some cases but with a great deal of laughter and mutual support. Well done to everyone who worked so hard, and I suspect several people, amazed themselves at what they could achieve. At the Monday class, the day before, we also had fewer people than the previous weeks (though the people who were missing will be returning). but it was still an excellent afternoon of dancing and we covered 3 of the dances featured on the next days' programme - which gave the people who came to both sessions a lot more confidence to get up and try their skills - and didn't they do well!
Once more we utilized the excellent facilities of the Phoenix Club and the generous services of the volunteers who run it - not only during the evening itself but also earlier in the afternoon to show us how to set the equipment up.
It is several years since we've organised a purely social evening based around the Edinburgh Tattoo. Nearly 30 attendees eventually assembled, dancers, their friends & additional Phoenix club members who had seen the event advertised. After our 'butties and chip' supper, and a last frantic run on the bar, the lights went out and we spent an awe inspiring hour on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle. The experience was enhanced by the size of the projection screen which is enormous, and excellent sound quality, giving us an almost immersive experience. Unfortunately I forgot to take pictures - but that in itself shows how engrossing the film was. Once we'd caught our breath, replenished our drinks and enjoyed a couple of trailers for the Club's upcoming Film Nights, we completed the evening with a 'jolly good sing-song'. Well done everyone who joined in to create such a fun end to the evening. We have to thank Tina for selecting the songs, preparing the lyrics and leading us all beautifully. She also treated us to a couple of solos, which was way more than we expected and truly made the evening special. Well the weather is super and so is the dancing. 14 people attended the beginners session last Monday - a really excellent number. We had fun with the Byron Strathspey - covering petronella turns, teapots, reels of 3 and then Allemande for 3 couples, in a hugely steep learning curve which everyone attacked with relish. We then started to introduce reels of 4 - to be continued next week - before finishing with a quick skip round Dunnet Head by way of release from all the cerebral hard work.
Tuesday was also well attended - although not everyone was able to dance - and even when they could it was obviously hard to break off from the socialising! It's great that the group is so friendly but getting a set together can be unexpected hard work :-) However, once up and running people really did well with their dancing - often surprising themselves at what they could achieve. I look forward as always to next week's dancing, but before that we have the Tattoo night to look forward to; it's going to be a good night, which should make up for any disappointment we may feel from not being on the telly ourselves due to the pull out of the 'Place in the Sun' team! Last week we were sad to say goodbye to a lovely couple who were heading back to their home shores after only a 2 week visit (though promising to return in May). We have also lost regular dancers at the class due to injury, illness or other responsibilities - thankfully most losses are temporary - but I was thinking that the sessions might be a little sparse for a while. Little did I know that their shoes would be so quickly filled by multiple newcomers to the Monday class who, despite the inevitable chaos of so many new people joining, all at once, managed to grasp a few basic concepts and, even more importantly seemed to enjoy themselves enormously! We managed to get through 2 dances which, without being anywhere near perfect, were recognisable for the dances they were; timing, covering, footwork and finesce will come in time - fun was already there and that's a good enough starting point for me :-) I am now exhausted, but excited to see what tomorrow brings - it certainly won't be quite what I expected last week - I can't wait :-)
As always there is a period of adjustment involved when I get back from holiday. This time was no exception and it seems to have taken even longer than normal. Doing a daily 'blether' while we were at Winter School has created a great record of our trip, but it was a major effort without access to a computer - and although it is incredible what you can do on a smartphone, it doesn't mean I found it easy. Anyway I was a bit 'blethered' out when I first got back, but it's now several weeks ago, so back to the keyboard I go.
My first class back at the helm was the Tuesday social night, literally the day after we landed back - rather tired but armed with some new dances I swung into action and it was great to be back. Well done to all of you who have since got up to give the new dances a try. It's also been great to have so many visitors, - especially our newer dancers bringing visiting family to see what their new enthusiasm is all about - even if they only managed one class it will hopefully be something they might try back home, that they may never have considered otherwise. Monday classes have returned and are being well attended - a record of what we do each week can be accessed via the Monday class page (the link is just under the header); I have also advertised that if anyone wants to come a bit earlier on Tuesdays to practice prior to the social dancing they are very welcome. Finally, the preparations for our social evening of Edinburgh Tattoo highlights followed by a good old sing-a-long, led by Tina Chester, are coming together and tickets are now available from Irene - see more on the Future Events page - I've never had a chance to attend the Tattoo but even seeing it 'second-hand' - so to speak - is thrilling. The full event is nearly 3 hours long so we will keep it to the highlights so you won't be wriggling in your seat, and you don't run the risk of being rained on either. It's going to be a fun night of Scottish stuff hopefully I'll see you there. Well, it was a wonderful week and yet again we feel like we've been blessed to experience something so special with so many amazing people from around the world. I'm sure where enthusiasts get together to enjoy anything that enthralls them, there is a level of energy involved, however there cannot be that many non-competitive activities that are so much fun and that are so accessible to so many different ages, nationalities and income levels, while doing you so much physical, mental and psychological good!
After indulging in a final full breakfast, enjoying our last look at the fabulous view and saying goodbyes, we walked easily back to the little Pitlochry Station trundling our cases behind us, to gradually meet up with most of the people who we'd just said farewell to as they drifted onto the platform to catch the same Edinburgh train as us! Promises to ourselves and each other to do it all again next year...we all truly hope rather than expect to achieve, but you never know... 🤞 As we walked into Pitlochry for our final classes, it was really strange to think that less than a week before we hadn't even arrived. Everything was now so comfortably familiar; however our final classes still gave us new moves and new dances to enjoy. In my class the teacher took advantage of the skill level of the class, not to mention the skill level of our brilliant accordionist who was supplying the music for our lesson, to push the boundaries and create a medley of two dances that had been published initially a reel and then as it's original version which was a Strathspey. The end result, however challenging was great fun and gave us a sense of achievement fitting for the end of such a great week of classes. The rest of the day was now focused on the ball. The afternoon walk through was understandably well attended, and extremely well run. Many of the dances were unfamiliar to both P and myself, but after walking them in such a great atmosphere we were looking forward to dancing them later. Dinner had been brought forward to accommodate us and we were encouraged to come down to dinner dressed as the buses were to leave promptly at 7pm. This necessitated quite a lot of serviettes tucked into collers since the concern of gravy down your front was a real one. We survived the meal unsplattered however and got to the coach on time ready to enjoy ourselves. Arriving at the Castle 20 minutes later we were amazed to be greeted by a Piper on the front steps of the Castle. In former years we had only been able to use the modern annex - still an amazing experience - but not the same as going through the front door! Travelling down the long corridors we finally came to the cloakrooms and changed into our dance shoes - an activity that had probably been repeated hundreds of times in the castle's past . Despite the chill we left our coats on hangers and headed into the reception area to be greeted with a choice of wines. Eventually the president called us to order and we formed up in couples for a Grand March led in by the Piper. Simple as it is, a Grand March is always thrilling when a lot of people are involved and in such a superb setting as the Blair Atholl Ballroom it is more than memorable. From the lines of the March, sets were immediately formed for the first dance- the very simple Jubilee jig and the night continued with super selection of jigs reels and Strathspeys. A few were a little more challenging but mainly they were just beautiful dances that were simple enough for everyone to enjoy. We both danced most of the program though not necessarily with each - as it should be in Scottish Country Dancing. The week's musicians had come together and with the addition of a drummer formed a wonderful band who were obviously enjoying themselves as much as the dancers. It is very difficult to convey how amazing this type of experience is. It isn't about just being in a fabulous looking place, it's about the connection that dancing and music brought to us all and how much fun it was. So many different nationalities, backgrounds and ages enjoying the experience of our hard work during the week bringing us together and every one of us important to every other person. It was literally over too soon, though perhaps not for our feet. Auld langs sign was sung with real feeling and rather more people knowing the words than is usually the case; quite possibly because so many of the singers didn't claim English as the first language! Finally we reclaimed our shoes and coats staggered out into the cold and onto the coaches to arrive back to our fabulous Hotel who had left out tea, coffee and shortbread for us to enjoy, in front of the log fires, while we discussed how wonderful the night had been and said goodbye to those who had an earlier start than most the next day. Gone midnight we staggered upstairs, glad we'd already done most of our packing in the afternoon.
One more day to go and it both feels like we've been here forever and that you'd like it to go on forever. Today my class was in the hotel and it was P's turn to trot out in the rain. He got slightly damp in the drizzle but he can't have been as cold as I was. The Atholl Suite, where the class was held, was seriously chilly to start with but we soon warmed it up. The class was fast paced and fun with yet a different teacher and teaching style. We were taught some super dances in a way that seemed effortless but I know takes considerable skill and preparation. The music was provided by a lovely violinist who claimed she was a beginner in the role of class musician but you certainly couldn't tell. Everyone left smily and enthusiastic and slightly exhausted. This afternoon the 'activity' was a very popular gin tasting session but we dipped out of that, with the initial plan being to take advantage of the spa in the hotel however we only got as far as our room. A certain amount of swatting for the Ball dances seemed advisable as well as some well deserved down time. It was a bit of a relief that tonight was the ceilidh so we didn't need to learn a thing. The word 'Ceilidh' nowadays usually means a night of easy dances and some food. The RSCDS ceilidhs are more in the traditional style of a selection of 'party pieces' and music, as well as dancing, the content can therefore vary enormously but it is always kept low key and friendly. Some of the dances were hilarious, at least they were how we did them. A couple of the activities were beyond the scope of our particular table - not surprisingly when none of us were Scottish - but we had fun trying and the music was wonderful. The evening finished with coffee in the lounge. Another great day Waking without too many aches and pains was something of a relief and a vindication of yesterday's teacher's warm up and warm down routines. I was the only one who had to travel today as P's class was in the hotel. I headed down to my class in town in a slight drizzle. A different teacher and musician, but just as much fun and definitely some interesting challenges.
Classes over, we had a snack, then joined a few others who had been asked to spare an hour to help proof a new dance. It was a fascinating process especially fitting the dance to music - or not - as it turned out, a bit of tweaking is going to be required apparently. The dance's name is currently restricted but we'll look out for it and maybe it'll be on our programme some day. More followed, tonight was a more than usually challenging dance program so the 'walk throughs' were very well attended and lots of fun, then the RSCDS International Branch had invited members to a very successful social get together with wine and nibbles. Dinner was next and delicious as always. Finally I headed for the evening's dance - P had decided he wanted to save himself - or at least his knee - for his dance classes so regretfully decided to skip the evening. As usual even without a partner to hand I had a great time. Dancing every dance until I decided to call it a night and headed upstairs to nurse a possible emerging cold ☹️. I've no time for sniffles 🤞it will be gone by tomorrow. |
MeOriginated in Manchester, England: Worked almost 20 yrs in the United Arab Emirates: Lives in Cyprus. Teaches Scottish Country Dancing (RSCDS qualified 2015) -just the average life! Also loves Photography & Photoshop, Gardening, Music, Sewing, Design, Reading, computers, God, my husband & my cat (not necessarily in that order). Hates - crowds, hypocrisy, 'Reality' TV, corrupt politicians, cruelty and greed of any kind. Archives
April 2024
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