The Scottish Country Dancer
Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, Southwest Washington State Branch
Volume 32 #5
 
March/April 2016


Articles in This Issue

 

Dance With Aloha

by Marge MacLeod van Nus

    

Fun in Hawaii

Geri Stuart and I recently returned from a whirlwind jaunt to Oahu. We shared good times, and good food with both family and friends.

For three days we danced at the "Aloha Weekend." This was fun filled nonstop time of eat-Welcome dance-eat-classes-eat-class-eat-Ball-eat-class-eat-ceilidh. Oh, and we did sleep some!! Teacher Linda Henderson kept us moving to music by the Humuhumunukunukuapua'a Strathspey Society "in house band" (folks from California, all teacher/dancers and versatile on various instruments.) The stupendous Ceilidh was the crowning jewel to an amazing time of Dance with Aloha. Do you want to know more? Just ask us!

My Drum Major Debut

by Linda Mae Dennis

It's a dark January morning. It's early, and it's cold. Cold made even colder because I'm nervous. This is the day I will make my debut as Drum Major for the Clan Macleay Pipe Band at a "barge launch" for Gunderson Marine. That's right – out there in front of everybody and everybody else – leading the band. Will my voice come out as a mere squeak the first time I try to give a command? Do I even remember how to walk? At this point, on the way to the launch site, it's hard to say.

We arrived at the launch site at "0 dark-thirty" and made a couple of attempts at finding where to park before actually settling into a spot. The Pipe Major, whose job it is to worry about the music (my job being "everything else", as my trainer drilled into me) actually took the time to walk with me through the parade course before everyone else arrived. We got stopped a bit short of where we were supposed to go, as there was still a gigantic crane in the way, but we did get an early look at the barge. It was impressively huge! About 3 stories tall and very long, it formed kind of a canyon between it and the building behind us.

Our Very Own Drum Major

I did NOT forget any of the pieces of my uniform, of which there are SO many – shoes, short socks, sock tops, flashes, sgian dubh, spats. Now we're up to the knees. Kilt, horse-hair sporran, kiltpin, plaidie, plaidie brooch, t-shrit, tunic, collar brooches, belt, and hat. We were not wearing feather bonnets due to the threat of rain, so I did not have to worry about balancing my hat on my head, and/or knocking it off with the mace.

The rest of the band arrived in fits and starts and in various stages of dress. Coffee and donuts were provided by Gunderson Marine, our wonderful corporate sponsor, whose barge we were to officially launch. Eventually, with much chatter and camaraderie, everyone was fully dressed, pipes and drums tuned, and all turned out onto the wet parking lot to line up and march off.

As a drummer, you wait at the back of the band to see what formation the pipers will take, then get into a similar formation and hang out until someone barks out some orders that tell you when to start. Then, you step out on the left foot following the person in front of you, playing along as best you know how. I must have done this over a hundred times. One might think that having listened to the marching orders over a hundred times that one would automatically know exactly what those orders were. But perhaps not.

As drum major, I had to be told where to stand, and pretty much what to say. We had not had a chance to practice this beforehand, as we are now holding band practice in a church basement with a fairly low ceiling. To add additional complexity and pressure, just before we were about to march off, the Scout Leader in charge of the Boy Scouts who were to be our color guard, came over to request that we (I) give an order to the Scouts about when to start off. It was suggested that I say "March Out the Colors". I really wanted to say "when you hear the music, start walking", but agreed to their request. So, the moment of truth arrived.

"Pipes and Drums," I hollered out in my loudest voice, and it did NOT come out as a mere squeak! "A'Shun!" And the band responded by standing at attention! Even the drummers in the very back! "By the Right (beat) Quick March!" At this, I had to make a half turn on both feet, bring the mace from my right hand to my left across my body, make a marching step with my left leg and begin marching on my left foot. I had practiced this move many times and it went smoothly, although I'm sure it could have been sharper and more militarily precise. We marched about half a block to the gate, and the band circled up. I wasn't quite sure where to stand, so I made something up. I wasn't quite sure how and when to do the fist pump to stop the band, but the bass drummer and I had worked out ahead of time that he was going to do the double beat at the correct time regardless of when I did the fist pump, so only he and I knew that we weren't always together.

I called off and stopped a few more sets before I remembered that I was supposed to say "Ready" before I did the call off. I had not practiced yelling out the names of the sets. I got a little tongue-tied on "Pipes and Drums!" "Bathgate and Breadalbane Gathering!" "Ready!" "At the Ha' (beat) One, Two!" We did a few more sets before the grumpy gate guard came by to say it would be a few more minutes, as they were moving the crane.

Here's how it was set up . . . There's a short driveway up to a guard house and electronic gate. The Band and the hundred or so spectators huddled under their umbrellas (did I mention it was raining? – not hard, just nice misty rain) were in front of the gate, waiting for it to open. The Boy Scouts were about 30 yards past the gate on the inside, under some sort of roof, waiting for their orders. They shut down the traffic on the Willamette River for the barge to be launched, so it's pretty imperative that the whole procedure goes off on schedule. We were surprised to have been held up for so long. The Band was to play in a circle until the gate opened, then parade through the warehouse to the Barge (maybe 75 yards or so).

Eventually, the gate opened. Yay! "Okay," says the Pipe Major, "Let's do this." So, again I holler out to get the Band at attention (even though they've been at attention the whole time), then remembered I'm supposed to yell something at the Boy Scouts. I turn away from the Band and holler "March out the Colors!" I turn back to the band and holler out "By the Right (beat) Quick March!" and make the turn without tripping or falling over, and smartly march out in front of the band. I didn't know until later that I had marched out taking extra long steps. What can I say? I was excited. (I blame Holly, who has trained me to use the extra long steps when we go walking – you can cover a lot of distance without using up too much energy.) Even the front row of 6'5" pipers were impressed by how quickly I was moving. The short little tenor drummers, in the back, hobbled by having a drum on one leg were not amused, and apparently had to pretty much pick up their drums and run to keep up.

The Band marched smartly through the warehouse, made the left turn at the barge and began to march the length of the behemoth barge. It was at least the length of a football field. I knew we had to do a counter march at some point, which involves some precision mace work. The crane had been in the way, so I didn't know how far down to march before I turned the Band around, and started to at one point, but heard the Pipe Major behind me saying, "Not Yet, Not Yet!". Then he says, "Okay, Now!" and I did it! Grasp the mace with the right hand, turn it 180 degrees horizontally, swing it up to the right shoulder so that it is pointing straight up, take one and a half steps forward, take three steps to turn around and head back through the band. Once past the last drum, turn the mace to point down, place it back into the left hand, keep marching. And when I halted the Band, they all halted, and when we stopped the music, the bass drummer and I were in agreement about when the double beat was supposed to happen. Whew!

The rain had picked up a bit by this time, but because of the delay with the crane earlier, they had to compress the ceremony, so we didn't have to stand out there for too long. There was the Pledge of Allegiance, some thank you's to honored guests, the playing of Amazing Grace – one piper on the barge answered by the Band on the ground, quite impressive and moving – a prayer, a couple of champagne bottles smashed against the side, and then "Crack" and the rails holding up the barge drop and the whole thing slid into the water. It's pretty exciting to watch, and I was able to actually relax and enjoy it.

And then, no dilly-dallying around after. We got the Band back in order, called off and marched out. I marched with a more reasonable gait on the way out, which the tenor drummers thanked me for later. Along the barge to the way out, a right corner, through the warehouse, back to the electronic gate, a left corner and on to the building where we had started. I was so giddy by the time we got there I forgot how to stop the band properly, and just stopped. Thankfully, they all laughed and stopped with me. Then almost every band member patted me on the shoulder and told me "good job", which was wonderful. My good friend, the lead stick (boss of the drummers), mentioned that my voice could/should be about an octave lower, and that I had my plaid draped over the wrong shoulder, and that I had countermarched through the left file of the band, rather than the right, which was more conventional. And really, those constructive comments were most welcome and helpful, and given after the fact, when they could be better absorbed.

I think most importantly, I had a chance to be a brand new beginner again. I have a much better memory, now, about how it is to be a beginning dancer. When there's too much new information coming in, everything is confusing, even stuff you used to know. And when someone has that wild-eyed look, we experienced dancers need to recognize it. That is the time to give only essential information and nothing else. Beginners rock!

Here is a link to a movie (QuickTime) of the launch itself:

http://www.imaginationprocessing.com/videos/BargeLaunch.m4v

Oldies But Goodies SCD Class

by Tom Halpenny

I have been attending Lisa Scott's Oldies But Goodies dance class, intended to be a gentler, low impact class for dancers, and emphasizes the social aspects of dancing. The class meets 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 7:30 to 9:00pm, at Columbia Dance Center. The class is meeting the needs of about twelve dancers so far.

Lisa begins with some gentle warm-up and stretching to soothing music. She combines her extensive musical background with teaching the dances.

Some challenging formations like "set and turn corners" are replaced by easier formations like "turn first corner by the right and turn second corner by the right." Each dancer has the option to dance formations with full energy or low impact.

RSCDS dances are being taught, beginning with selections from Book 1 that was first published in 1924, and progressing sequentially through the RSCDS books. Lisa noted that dances from the early books were popular and well known for dance events twenty years ago. Many of these dances became less familiar as new dances were devised for later RSCDS books. (Book 49 is the latest book published in 2015.)

We have an opportunity to learn the Oldies but Goodies dances. Or are we dancers the Oldies but Goodies?!

RSCDS Strategy Meeting – Change Statements

by Tom Halpenny

A set of 5 Strategic Aims had been adopted at the RSCDS Annual General Meeting 2015. The RSCDS Management Board, committees, and HQ staff attended the annual training meeting of RSCDS Management Board and committees members in Edinburgh on Saturday, January 9, 2016. Executive Officer Gillian Wilson facilitated a discussion of the 5 Strategic Aims in order to develop the next level of detail.

Strategy Map

Instead of discussing Activities (methods), participants were asked to write priority Change statements (more specific goals) that describe how the Society will look, after improvements have been implemented. A Business Plan Working Group can then identify the prioritized Activities that will effectively accomplish the Change statements. The timeframe calls for a business plan to be developed and presented to members for the November RSCDS AGM 2016.

The Change statements are determined by identifying problems: What stops us from achieving this aim? We then turn the problems into positive suggested priority Change statements.

    
For example, likely problems identified, related to Aim number 1 are:
1.       RSCDS general image is "have to dance properly" / unfriendly / unrelaxed / "old fashioned". 
          Branches often have the same image / some branches are unwelcoming.
2.       Ceilidh dancing is seen as fun and exciting but RSCDS is not associated with this / we just 
          focus on SCD and not other types of related dance.
3.       Public in non-Scottish contexts does not know what Scottish Country Dance is / there are 
          other local country dance traditions.
4.       Insufficient linking and partnership with other dance forms and dance organizations.
5.       RSCDS communications to members and branches are often Scottish / UK focused and 
          something that works in Scotland does not necessarily work elsewhere / internationally.
    

    
What do we want to change to? Suggested priority Change statements are: 

1.       The RSCDS portrays itself as a fun, sociable, healthy, inclusive and family friendly organization, in 
          collaboration with its branches.
2.       RSCDS is recognised as a leading organization for Scottish dance and music in Scotland and internationally.
3.       The RSCDS is involved with ceilidh and other related dance forms.  
4.       The general public is aware of the different forms of Scottish dance.
5.       RSCDS works effectively with relevant dance, music and arts organizations in Scotland and internationally.
6.       RSCDS is an internationally relevant and accessible organization.
    

Next comes the challenging part. A Business Plan Working Group will soon begin to gather input from Society stakeholders and will identify workplan options. We will ideally reach a balance of collaboration and networking amongst the small Headquarters staff and the volunteer committees, branches, and affiliated groups, with international and intergenerational perspective.

The Beginner's Reeling!

by Linda Kelso

A little history from June of 1998. ~ The Editor

Sometime in the spring of 1985 (or was it '86?). Never mind, when is not too important. I was living in Birmingham, Alabama and had gone to Atlanta to attend a Neil Diamond concert with my friend, Jane McLendon. It was great. I was ready to go again the next night, but Jane already had other plans. She was going to a Scottish Country Dancing event. Scottish Country Dancing, what's that, I wondered. I'd never heard of it.

I don't remember much about it except that there was a nice crowd of people there, all friendly, with the women in pretty dresses and the men in kilts. I'd guess this may have been the first time I ever saw kilts. It was definitely the first time I'd seen dancing like this. It looked like a disorganized melee, and the music all sounded alike. I couldn't quite imagine why at that point, but everyone seemed to be having a lot of fun.

While I lived in Alabama, I tried to do as many things with Jane as possible. That mostly meant tagging along on various trips to dancing events. I remember going to things in Atlanta, to something in Kentucky and something else in Nashville, the only time I ever got there. Jane tried hard to teach me some steps, and occasionally persuaded me to participate in an easy dance. (Easy! There is no such thing!!) My feet wouldn't cooperate. I'll stick to taking pictures of other people dancing.

Sometimes It Takes A While

Fast forward to September '95. I'm now living in Longview. Jane, and some others from the Atlanta group flew to Seattle to attend the Seattle's group's event at Fort Worden. I joined them for a day, again watching and taking lots of pictures. At Fort Worden I met Ken McFarland, and Jane explained that Ken had been organizing various trips for dancers. She said sometimes non-dancers could go. Which led me to going along on the cruise to Alaska last summer. Well, if I was going to hang around with these dancing folk, maybe I should learn something about it. Robert McOwen's ladies' step dancing classes helped me start making just a bit of sense of it. To my amazement, last fall I discovered there are two classes a month in the Longview/Kelso area. Thinking about going along on another Ken McFarland trip, I began my dance career.

Classes: Sally Bledsoe teaches the class. She is very ably though informally assisted by Fred and Marge van Nus, who drive some 80 miles round trip to help out. There are four or five other (fairly) regulars and a changing cast of beginners like me.

There are some basic things about Scottish dancing that are NOT immediately obvious. Like progression down the set. Having walked the dance a few times, once we started, I thought once I got through it once, we were now the second couple or third or whatever. I was totally lost for the rest of the dance. I am still trying to figure out which couple I'm part of, and if my partner can't keep track of it, oh well, our dance is a mess!!

Corners: By now, most of the time I can remember which is my first and second, but that took some doing. Reels, right or left shoulder. Just keep winding in and out of the other people till the music says stop.

Poussette: My partner had better be able to push me through it, or I'm lost.

The Steps: I can manage the strathspey when the group is following Sally around the floor, but in a dance my mind can deal with only one thing: trying to be where I'm supposed to be at the end of the figure. Forget the steps!!

On your toes! Fred must remind me a dozen times during class. As I got better at it, my legs got better at protesting. Twice after class I was up an hour after bedtime, walking around my apartment trying to work out the cramps.

HAVE YOU LEARNED ANYTHING? With perhaps 10 to 12 classes and one dance behind me I set off for Hawaii with Ken McFarland's group, looking forward to the week of dancing. Well, with a stellar dance master like John Drewry leading the classes as they learned new, intricate and beautiful dances, it was back to the camera. But all was not lost. At least I knew what he was talking about!

There has been one glorious moment so far. It happened at the dance in Vancouver in February. I knew what I was supposed to do, and so did everyone else in the set. We completed the dance as though we knew what we were doing and most of them did(!). It was a thrill. I told Jane I finally figured out why so many people enjoy Scottish Country Dancing. Someday I think I will, too.

Tidbits from Old Tomes

by John Shaw

    
    
    
    
    

I recently received a copy of Ken McFarland's newsletter wherein he describes many items of interest from his recent travels to Scotland. Ken spent some time at the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh, researching country dances and dancing, and he describes some of his findings in his newsletter.

Ken also mentions a Library of Congress web site called "An American Ballroom Companion, Dance Instruction Manuals". http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/musdiquery.html#full

That web page gives you a text box for entering a word (or words) for which to search. I entered "Scottish", of course, and it presented me with a list of about 70 books containing something about Scottish dance. The publication dates on these books ranged from the 1700's to the early 1900's.

The two excerpts below are from a book by Elias Howe, first published in 1862, titled American Dancing Master, And Ball-Room Prompter. (Actually, the full title fills most of the title page, as you can see on the next page.)

This first excerpt is Howe's description of Country Dance; I noticed among his list of "most fashionable" dances two that I recognized: Money Musk and The Sailor's Hornpipe:

Country Dances, or Contra Dances

The term "Country Dance" is the one invariably used in all books on dancing that have been published in England during the last three centuries, while all the works issued in France within the same period, employ the term Contra Dance, or in French, " Contre Danse," from being placed on contra sides. As the authority is equally good in both cases, either term is therefore correct…

Fifty years ago or more, the Country Dance was the only one danced in this country, except in the cities and large towns, where several fancy dances were occasionally performed; but even in those places the Country Dance reigned triumphant.

American Dancing Master

The dances that were at that time the most fashionable were: " Fisher's Hornpipe," "Chorus Jig," "Sir Roger de Coverley," "The Cushion Dance," "Money Musk," "Speed the Plough," "The Devil's Dream," "College Hornpipe," "Rustic Reel," "Six Handed Reel," "Reel fore and after a straight four," "Durang's Hornpipe," "The Sailor's Hornpipe ," & c.

This next excerpt is Howe's explanation of the dance, Money Musk; can you follow it?

MONEY MUSK

First couple join right hands and swing once and a half round, go below 2d couple, (the 1st lady goes below 2d gent. on the outside, 1st. gent. at the same time goes below and between 2d and 3d ladies), forward and back six, 1st couple swing three quarters round, 1st gent. goes between 2d couple (on the inside), first lady goes between 3d couple inside, forward and back six, 1st couple swing three quarters round to place (below one couple), right and left four.

I think descriptions of Scottish Country Dances have come a long way!

To the right is an image of the title page of Elias Howe's book. Notice the line near the hand-written date, "DEPORTMENT AND THE TOILET". I determined, from this book and a couple of others, that "Toilet" refers to the proper dress for the occasion.

Yeah, me neither.

Oldies But Goodies Class

by Lisa Scott

Come join the fun for a low key 90 minutes of SCD. Tempos are a bit calmer, some formations are modified, and dancers are encouraged to make the dancing work for their physical ability. We have done dances from the RSCDS books 1 and 2 and will be heading on to dances in books 3 and 4 through March. The class starts at 7:30 and is held at Columbia Dance Studio in Vancouver, WA. For more info please call Lisa Scott at 971-227-8902.

Great Scot

by Keith Swingruber

A reminder that it took Scottish know-how to make it possible for us to wheel our way to classes and dances. ~ The Editor

John Loudon McAdam, 1756-1836

After a stint in New York City during the American Revolution, McAdam returned to Scotland in 1783 with a small fortune. He bought an estate in Ayrshire and became the district's road trustee.

After observing the poor road conditions, McAdam started experimenting with improvements at his own expense. These experiments were continued in Cornwall, where he built raised road beds of cheap, local rock. The beds were then covered with smaller rock, and bound together with gravel, stone dust, and water.

McAdam wrote treatises on road construction, and was eventually appointed Surveyor General of Metropolitan Roads in Great Britian. His "macadamization" process quickly spread to other countries, paving the way for the modern highway.

John Boyd Dunlop, 1840-1921

Dunlop was born in Ayrshire, and trained as a veterinary surgeon in Belfast, Ireland. He conceived the idea for an air filled tire while trying to reduce bicycle vibration. In 1845, a patent had been granted to Robert William Thomson, but no practical uses were found for the invention.

In 1888, Dunlop was granted a patent for an all-rubber inner tube, protected by a rubber-treaded canvas jacket. Commercial production of his tires began in 1890, and Dunlop's company was subsequently granted patents leading to the modern wheel and tire.

Like Ripples on a Pond

by Van Meter Hord

Another wee story reminding us of the ways Scotlands sons and daughters make our lives so much better. ~ The Editor

His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day, while trying to eke out a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog.

There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death.

The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved. "I want to repay you," said the nobleman. "You saved my son's life."

"No, I can't accept payment for what I did," the Scottish farmer replied, waving off the offer. At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door of the family hovel.

"Is that your son?" the nobleman asked. "Yes," the farmer replied proudly.

"I'll make you a deal. Let me take him and give him a good education. If the lad is anything like his father, he'll grow to a man you can be proud of."

And that he did. In time, Farmer Fleming's son graduated from St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin.

Years afterward, the nobleman's son was stricken with pneumonia. What saved him? Penicillin.

The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill. His son's name? Sir Winston Churchill.

Someone once said what goes around comes around. When you help someone else you are bringing joy into your life also.

Scottish Country Dance in Scotland

by Tom Halpenny

I attended my first Scottish dance in Scotland 9th January 2016, the formal Trinity SCD Club 63rd Annual Banquet and Ball. I was particularly keen to meet new friends and observe how people socially interact. Dance event organizers Colin and Joan Tyler were very friendly and welcoming. The format is similar to the Southwest Washington State Branch Dinner Dance. Guests were assigned seats for the 7:30 banquet with thirteen tables of ten guests each. I had pleasant conversations with fellow diners at my table. The dance programme began at 9:00 after the tables were cleared from the floor.

Alastair Wood and his Scottish Dance Band provided the energetic music with two accordions and keyboard. In a departure from prior years, the dances were briefed this year. (Dancers must have been pretty familiar with the programme during earlier years!) I enjoyed dancing with some of about ten RSCDS management committee members, whom I had met in the Away Day strategy meeting earlier in the day. I pulled out my sheet of Minicribs to refresh my memory of the next dance, while Keith Rose, who is famous for generating thousands of Pilling style dance diagrams, read his sheet of ball programme diagrams.

The Trinity Ball Programme


After the final dance concluded, the band struck up a polka. The partner I had danced with took ball room hold and said, "Let's go!" Dozens of dancers began racing around the dance floor in random directions with the polka step. I was a little nervous as we narrowly avoided a collision a couple times. Woohoo! ~ The Editor

Since the bus stopped running before midnight and it had been raining pretty steadily, the event hosts Joan and Colin were kind enough to drive me past my hotel, while delivering my polka-partner to the airport for an early flight. After a busy day of meeting and dancing, I slept well until a leg cramp hit me at 3:00am. I got back to sleep but jet lag returned and I ended up sleeping the day away. I emerged from my windowless room around 5:00pm and strolled into the evening for a final walk through Edinburgh streets before flying home the next morning.


"All the ills of mankind, all the tragic misfortunes that fill our history books, all the political blunders, all the failures of the great leaders have arisen merely from a lack of skill in dancing." Moliere (1622-1673)

Calendar of Events

March 12th 2016: Portland Workshop and Ball

Schedule:
Registration 9:00am - 9:30am
Level 1 Class 9:30am - 11:00am
Combined Class 11:15am -12:15pm
Lunch 12:15pm - 12:45pmm
Level 2 Class 1:00pm - 2:30pm
Ball Walk-Through 2:45pm - 4:00pm
Grand March 7:00pm
Ball 7:00pm -11:00pm

Please note new structure: One teacher, one class at a time.

Bottled water will not be provided. Please bring your own to refill as needed.

Teacher:

Gail Michener, Lethbridge, Alberta

Musicians:
Marcia Thumma, fiddle
Brian Crisafulli, fiddle
Bill Boyd, piano
Jason Thumma, string bass

Ball Program:
http://portlandscottishdancers.org/workshop_crib.html

Location:
Capitol Hill Dance Center
Burlingame Water Tower Dance Hall,
8936 SW 17th Ave.,
Portland, Ore. 97219

Further information including maps and registration forms can be obtained at:
http://portlandscottishdancers.org/workshop.html
March 15: RSCDS Book 51 Deviser Testing
RSCDS is nearing the March 25 deadline for devisers to submit dances
for the new Book 51 for young dancers. The Branch would like to give devisers
an opportunity to test their new dances with a set of dancers
before submitting the dances to RSCDS.
You can access the information to create and submit your dance:
https://www.rscds.org/document/1043

The usual Classics dance class on Tuesday March 15, 7:30-9:00pm
at Columbia Dance Center
, will begin with testing devisers' dances,
and then fill the remaining time with the Classics dances. We will
have time to test 4-to-5 dances. In order to effectively plan the evening,
please send an email to Tom Halpenny at
stating your intention to test a dance.
April 1-3: 36th Annual Spring Ball Weekend in Ashland
April 1-3: 36th Annual Spring Ball Weekend in Ashland
Hosted by the Ashland Branch of the Heather and the Rose Country Dancers

Musicians:
Betsy Branch (fiddle) and Lisa Scott (piano)

Saturday Schedule:
10:00 am-Noon - Workshop on dances from Brooke Friendly and Chris Sackett
1:30-4:30 pm - Ball Review Workshop
7:30 pm - Ashland Country Dancers 36th English & Scottish Country Dance Ball

Location:
The Grove Gym, 1195 East Main St, Ashland OR

More information is available at:
http://heatherandrose.org/activities/spring_ball.shtml
April 2 2016: Vancouver Isle Workshop
Vancouver Island Scottish Country Dance Society
One Day Workshop, Banquet and Ball
Victoria, B.C.

Workshops:
Teachers: Linda Mae Dennis and Louise McGillivray
Musicians: Mary Ross and Julie Smith
0900 to 1030 first session
1030 to 1100 refreshment interval
1100 to 1230 second session

Banquet & Ball:
1700 Doors open, Open Bar
1800 Banquet
1930 Grand March assembly, music by The Tartan Players

Locations:
Venues for Classes:
White Eagle Hall, 90 Dock St
The Church of Truth, 111 Superior St
Banquet & Ball:
Victoria Edelweiss Club, 108 Niagara St

Questions?
Contact Ned (250) 383–0068,
Registration forms and other information are at: http://viscds.ca/workshop-and-spring-social/
April 9:
April 9 Portland Dance Party

7:30 P.M. $5
Capitol Hill Dance Center
Burlingame Water Tower,
8936 SW 17th Ave.
Portland, Ore.
April 23: 7th Annual Dinner Dance
A Little Night Music

Musicians: Andy Andy Imbrie*, David Knight, and Sherryl Fawx* (* of REEL of SEVEN)
St. Luke's Episcopal Church
426 East Fourth Plain Blvd., Vancouver WA.
Dinner at 6:00 PM, Grand March at 7:15 PM.

We can visit the website to access the flyer and registration form.

http://www.rscds-swws.org/events.html#Registration

Reservations needed by April 8th.

Please join us for this Grand Celebration!

The Program:
Lady Catherine Bruce's Reel J RSCDS Graded Book #7
Staffin Harvest S RSCDS Book Four for 1978 #3
The Kissing Bridge R RSCDS Book 47 #9
Best Set in the Hall J RSCDS Book 46 #7
Miss Isabella MacLeod S RSCDS Book 25 #7
Red House R RSCDS Book 7 #2
The Tattie Bogle J Haynes, 1st Carnforth Collection #7
The Braes of Breadalbane S RSCDS Book 21 #7
Round Reel of Eight R RSCDS Book 27 #7
Intermission
The Cranberry Tart J Glasspool, 7 Year Itch #5
Auld Lang Syne S RSCDS Book 27 #12
On The Quarter-Deck H Harbour City Collection #7
The Raven's Dance J Haynes, 5th Carnforth Collection #7
Cherrybank Gardens S Drewry, Bankhead Book #7
The Reel of the Royal Scots R RSCDS Leaflet 7

Additional Opportunities for Socializing and Fun!

Warm-Up Friendships, Old and New
Saturday, 1:00 pm **Rain or Shine**
Take a tour of Fort Vancouver at the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site.
Park in the parking lot just north of the Fort and meet at the Fort Gates.

Work out the Kinks
Sunday, 11:00 am **Rain or Shine**
Again, park in the Fort Vancouver parking lot. This 2.5 mile walk will begin
with a tour of the 1845 Fort Garden and continue across the Land Bridge
to the Old Apple Tree Park, along the Waterfront, into downtown Vancouver
and through the Vancouver Farmers Market. We will walk back to the Garden
through the Historic Vancouver Barracks before saying our goodbyes.
May 14:
May 14 Portland Dance Party

7:30 P.M. $5
Capitol Hill Dance Center
Burlingame Water Tower,
8936 SW 17th Ave.
Portland, Ore.
  Do you have an item of Celtic interest you would like to see in print?  
  You can contact me in any of the following ways:  
  By mail:  
  Martin MacKenzie
  10701 SE Hwy 212 C-7
  Clackamas, OR 97015
  By email:  
  The Scottish Country Dancer is a bi-monthly publication of the RSCDS Southwest Washington State Branch, a non-profit educational organization. For changes of address, please contact Martin MacKenzie, 10701 SE Hwy 212 C-7 Clackamas, OR 97015, . The editor reserves the right to alter or edit any material submitted for publication for reasons of taste, style, or clarity. All materials for publication should be sent by email to the editor at the address above, preferably in straight text. Deadline is one week before the end of the month prior to publication date. Editors of other newsletters may use or adapt any materials in the Scottish Country Dancer unless a specific copyright notice is included. Please credit author and original source.

Generated Tuesday March 01, 2016