Teachers in primary & secondary schools

Dance, intimately combined with music, has been a fundamental part of human culture since the very earliest times. It enjoys huge popularity today, both for fun and as a physical activity to keep people fit. Spontaneous pleasure in dancing is obvious among small children; teaching children the basics of more formal dancing in primary school and encouraging them to continue in secondary school can lay the foundations for life-long enjoyment.

Dance Scottish!

Scottish dancing has particular advantages over many other forms of dance. Its steps and basic formations are easily learned but can build into dances of considerable complexity as dancers become more adept. It encourages teamwork and makes no gender distinction in its movements. It is full of patterns that encourage mathematical thinking. Many of the elements of the school curriculum, from health and wellbeing through social skills and the expressive arts to a range of academic subjects, are supported by and can be developed through Scottish dancing.

Download the RSCDS’s Schools Resources leaflet for ideas on curricular links and other useful information.

Kids Dancing
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How can we help?

We have two sets of resources that will set you on your way and help you learn to 'dance Scottish'. These are perfect for the beginner, and are important resources for teachers.

The Jigs and Reels pack has popular Scottish Country Dances and Ceilidh dances for beginners. In the pack there are instructions for the dances, DVDs showing the dances performed and music CDs for each dance.  

There is also the Dance Trad pack, which has a further set of Ceilidh and Scottish Country Dances to expand the repertoire and assist in the technique of your dancing. There are instructions for the dances, DVDs showing the dances performed and music CDs for each dance.

Both resources are available for purchase in the shop.

In addition, our Primary School Accreditation Programme is a perfect way to get started and will help your class work towards their Bronze, Silver or Gold badges, while Medal Tests enable enthusiastic children to gain medals marking their individual achievements. 

Jigs & Reels

A progressive programme of Scottish Country Dances for teachers of children and young people in primary schools that includes detailed instructions for 30 dances, CDs and DVDs.

Dance Trad

A programme of Ceilidh, Scottish and creative dance aimed at secondary school aged pupils. Detailed instructions for 14 Ceilidh dances and 16 Scottish Country Dances, CDs and DVDs.

Medal Tests

Enthusiastic young dancers can demonstrate and be rewarded for their dancing skills through six increasingly challenging levels, with certificates and medals, and a plaque to display them.

Accredited

The Primary School Accreditation Programme is an exciting new initiative for primary schools to learn Scottish Country Dances at Bronze, Silver and Gold levels and earn badges.

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Join an RSCDS Branch & receive member benefits

There are 159 RSCDS Branches and over 300 Affiliated Groups in more than 50 countries around the world, located on all continents (except Antarctica).

They organise and run classes, dances and other social events in their own areas and are committed to helping develop Scottish Dance and Music for future generations.

We encourage you to try Scottish Country Dancing for yourself to see just how much fun it can be, so please come along and learn how to 'Dance Scottish'. 

Wherever you are in the world there is most likely Scottish Country Dancing.

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