Search sources
The joys of Scottish Country Dancing
A few years ago, at a New Year's Eve party, Rosie attended her first ceilidh, an experience which led to her joining u3a and discovering a love for Scottish Country Dancing.
If someone had suggested a few years ago that my husband Graeme and I would be partaking in Scottish Country Dancing in the future, I would have readily eaten my hat!
Although I was forced into ballet and learning several musical instruments as a child, I thought that was something left in the very distant past, never to be rekindled. As for Graeme, well frankly, he was the most unmusical, uncoordinated person I have ever met. However, following a trip to Glen Coe at New Year with a walking group, that all changed.
As per tradition, the place we were staying brought in the New Year with vigour and it was here where we first experienced Scottish Country Dancing, or to be
more precise, our first ever ceilidh. And…… most unexpectedly…… we loved it!
Upon our return to Dorset, Graeme wondered (doubtfully) whether there was any Scottish Country Dancing clubs available in our neck of the woods. Lo and behold to our utter amazement we were to learn that you could dance practically every day of the week in South Dorset.
We enrolled with Dorchester u3a and that is really where it all began. We had a group of maybe about 16 people initially, once a fortnight, and that meant enough time passed between each class for all of us to completely forget everything we learnt. After lots of enthusiasm from the group, the lessons soon became weekly which was a big help. Although Scottish Country Dancing can be quite physical, I think it’s worth mentioning here that the dancing can be equally enjoyable and indeed acceptable, (and you can gain many of the same benefits), even by just walking the dances through if mobility is restricted for some reason. Our group leader, Irene, was and is incredible; she has the patience of a saint and deserves a chest full of medals.
The thing about Scottish Country Dancing is that there is just so much to learn. I don’t want to put you off, but these are some of the facts. There are the basic steps, which initially seem impossible to get your head around. The formations are numerous, and even today, nearly three years on, keep surprising us. The rhythms consist of jigs and reels, both of which are lively and energetic. Then there is the strathspey, which is slow and elegant and equally demanding - there is nowhere to hide in a strathspey! The dances are performed with a partner and within a team of other dancers, but the good thing about it is you don’t need to arrive with anyone. Everyone dances with everyone else, making it an exceedingly sociable event with the more experienced dancers gently guiding the newcomers through the dance. And the feeling when a dance goes well is unbelievable!
Now that all sounds very stressful and daunting, so why would you do it? Scottish Country Dancing offers so much joy and so many benefits. Firstly, it’s fun and the laughs that have been had are like a breath of fresh air. After all, it is said that “laughter is the best medicine”. It lifts morale, reduces stress and as previously noted, is an incredibly sociable experience. The physical benefits mean it’s like a workout, but so much more fun than going to the gym. Although it isn’t at all like a gruelling HIIT (high intensity interval training) class, Scottish Country Dancing has been shown to have similarly positive effects on bone health. It involves weight bearing and moderate impact exercises, such as hops and jumps. The dance form also involves muscle strengthening exercises that are important for maintaining bone density, which in turn can help strengthen bones and reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Win, win!
This type of physical dancing not only improves cardiovascular health, but also brain function. It provides mental stimulation and socialisation, both of which are important for overall brain health. The memory and coordination required to learn and perform the steps can also help cognitive abilities. They say practice makes perfect, but this does take time. When we first started out dancing, we barely knew our own names by the end of a session, let alone remembering the dance, so perseverance is key.
We’ve been dancing for nearly three years now and not only do we go to sessions with u3a, but also other lessons in Weymouth (Weymouth Scottish Country Dancers) and Charminster. We’ve attended a few balls which, although initially nerve-racking, are a wonderful experience. The ladies tend to get dressed up in very smart or glamorous clothes and the men often wear Kilts and Bonnie Prince Charlie jackets. It’s a really special sight to behold with everyone dancing together in long lines. This is made even more spectacular when accompanied by a hugely talented live band and performed on a sprung floor. A sprung floor is not something l had ever encountered, but the first time I did, it was like being on a trampoline; suddenly little hops and jumps were transformed into something I would expect to do on a pogo stick! It really is a thoroughly fantastic and magical experience.
There are also brilliant opportunities to go on dancing weekends and holidays where, during the day, lessons are taught by very experienced visiting teachers. Then in the evening, dances are held, which often consolidate moves that have been learnt during the course of the day. These events take place all round the country and indeed the world. You find you will meet up with familiar faces from previous trips time and time again.
A trip that we have found particularly special is the Royal Scottish Country Dancing Society Summer School held every year in July and August in Scotland - an action packed four weeks of dancing at the University in the historic town of St Andrews. Dancers of all ages come from every corner of the world and are led by some of the best Scottish Country dance teachers, accompanied by brilliant musicians. We go for just one week (each week can vary slightly in content) and we have found that this is a fantastic opportunity to improve our skills. It’s fun, friendly and full on!
So if you are looking for a new activity to take up which is cheap, (the only requirement is a suitable pair of dancing shoes), fun, challenging and great for your mental health, give Scottish Country Dancing a thought. At the beginning, dancing really wasn’t our thing and neither of us could have dreamt that we would be dancing as much as we are now. We have met so many people who have been doing this type of dancing all their lives and they are an absolute pleasure to watch and a great inspiration to us as amateurs. We will never be those people - we re too long in the tooth! - but we can dream, try our best and, most of all, enjoy the journey.
Previous & Next Articles in this category
Search sources
Similar articles
Tags
Previous & Next Articles in this category