We have never experienced a time like this. To help support the worldwide community of Scottish country dancers, we are issuing a series of newsletters to our members and subscribers - Dance Scottish At Home. This will develop and improve as time goes on, and we will be responding to what you would like to see and read. Our aim is to include articles, music, games, podcasts and online classes that will entertain and connect us with our dancing friends across the globe.

You are encouraged to share Dance Scottish At Home with dancers and musicians in your Group, Branch and wider network. We are all part of the Scottish dance family and now is the time to show it. 

Your feedback and ideas are welcome – please click here to share them with us.

To receive this newsletter just sign up here. All non-members welcome!

Dance Scottish At Home - 15th January 2021

2021 – a New Year and a new edition of Dance Scottish At Home!  We hope you all had a good Festive Season despite the strange time we find ourselves in. As we head into 2021, the DSAH team are looking forward to new editions packed full of music and dance facts, stats and puzzles to keep you entertained and connected with the RSCDS while it’s not possible to dance together.

At Home Podcast

In this edition, RSCDS Music Director, Luke Brady, chats to Peter Wood, the man behind “Tunes in the Hoose”. They link up with the dance in this issue’s “What’s Behind the Name?”, share a “Dashing White Sergeant” from an 18 piece band, discuss the annual Shetland Festival “Up Helly Aa” and much more.

What's behind the name?

The Foula Reel is not often danced today by Scottish country dancers but has roots going back into the mists of time. A weaving dance with figures that are common to the Hebridean Weaving Lilt and the Swedish dance the Vava Vadma, The Foula Reel was danced widely throughout Shetland in the 19th century. As with many traditional dances there is more than one interpretation of The Foula Reel. Whilst the RSCDS version is a 40 bar dance, many Shetland folk dancers dance a 32 bar version. The exact origin of the dance is not known – is it from the island of Foula or is it a Shetland dance? To add to the mystery the alternative name for the tune is Da Shaalds of Foula, a fishing bank that lies between Foula and the Shetland mainland: Da Shaalds meaning shallow water. Does the dance have connections with fishermen?

The latest online class

Join a different RSCDS Teacher each week for a mixture of basic movements, warm ups, technique and steps to keep you active. Live every Wednesday at 19:00 UK time, the class will give you the chance to dance with RSCDS members around the world at the same time.  *Please note that not all recorded classes begin immediately - skip ahead on the recording to find the start time, or just let it run and enjoy the music!* 

ONLINE CLASS - 20TH JANUARY 2020   ALL ONLINE CLASSES

Dance puzzles

Do you enjoy solving puzzles? This week we have provided 2 challenges to entertain, perplex and intrigue you. 

JIGSAW PUZZLE    CROSSWORD - ISLANDS THEME

RSCDS news

Special offer half year memberships are now available for new members to join the Society from January - June 2021. FREE for under 25yrs and at a reduced rate for 25yrs and over.

Unfortunately, due to the ongoing COVID-19 considerations, the Unit 1 exams which were scheduled for February 2021 have now been postponed. It is hoped they will be rescheduled for the middle of 2021 and further updates will follow in February. 

Due to the updated COVID-19 restrictions in Scotland, physical shop orders will be suspended from 15th January until further notice.  However, the good news is that digital books and music are still available to purchase online as usual.

Calling all Branches and Affiliated Groups!  In preparation for our first magazine of 2021 we are looking for submissions from you.

Finally, E&T are currently seeking any fully qualified teachers who are willing to participate in a short online 'train the trainer' course to assist the development of the Core Training for Instructors project. Please contact e&t@rscds.org for more details.

Find the full Dance Scottish At Home newsletter here >

"I greatly appreciate the innovative way that the RSCDS has ensured that we all keep up our dance skills and stay connected to one another throughout this challenging time.  It was a real treat to have Angela teach the class accompanied by her husband, Graham on the piano.

Thank you again to the imaginative team at RSCDS for implementing this social connection for all of us in the worldwide dancing community."

 Helene and Douglas Nelson,  rscdsgleneagles.org