RSCDS Banffshire Branch newspage - see whats new in January 2024 WELCOME The RSCDS has brought out a new downloadable Welcome Guide for new members. It's full of helpful information and existing members may find some of the content interesting too, such as the page of Useful Information Links. If you'd like to have a look, the Welcome Guide can be downloaded here The latest Dance Scottish Together can be found here Winter News January - March 2024 21 January 2024 Class with a Difference By Anne Taylor and Dianna Baillie A brief lull between severe weather warnings (the snow had disappeared overnight & storm Isha wasn’t due till evening) meant the class at Spey Bay was good to go. Anne & Dianna took it turn about to teach the dances (which all had ‘New’ in the title, as it was the first class of the New Year). We started off with ‘The New Forest Circle’ (New Forest SCD) as a warm up, then Newburgh Jig (Bk48). Anne took us through New Abbey (Roy Goldring) where we were encouraged to cover across all the sets and New Amsterdam (Chris Ronald, Big Apple Coll.) had a couple of new formations there to challenge us - a very enjoyable dance once we got it. The Newholme Jig (Ian Barbour, Magic Medicine), followed by ‘A Guid New Year’ (Maggie & Duncan Keppie) taught by Dianna and Anne finished off with ‘Ways in New Hall’ (Bk42) then ‘The New Opera’ (John Drewry, Australia Bk.) Ladies’ Chain, Espagnole, S et and Rotate, Rondel. The new ones - Celtic Cross Progression, Swing Corners and a modified Corners Pass and Turn (half turn & twirl instead of Turn) were formations covered. A very enjoyable afternoon had by all and can’t wait to see what Bill and Rosemary have in store for us next month. Class with a Difference 18th February 2024 RSCDS Teachers, Bill & Rosemary Legge We had two three couple sets and we danced to make it a seven. Our theme was "Something old and Something new" Our dances were - Scotch Mixer The Waggle o' the Kilt Toast to the Mousies Mathilde is a Delight Chased Lovers Scottish Reform The Riverside Report by Bill Legge The dates for the next 'Class with a Difference' can be found here Estonian Visitors to Banffshire Estonian Dancers come to Portsoy Eight young dancers and four adults travelled from Avinurme in Estonia to Portsoy this week. It was a second visit for three of them. They had travelled to Riga, flew to Edinburgh and bused to Aberdeen. Anne McArthur picked them up there and took them to Portsoy with a stop to visit Delgaty Castle. The dancers stayed in the Sail Loft in Portsoy overnight. They had a hectic schedule sampling the delights of Bonnie Portsoy. There was pizza, fine pieces and a ceilidh with some members of the Banffshire Branch and Anne McArthur's Dancers on Wednesday night. Thursday was a beautiful sunny day although very cold and windy. The dancers were accustomed to the cold as they live near the Russian Border but the wind from the North Sea was something else. The group visited the Salmon Bothy Museum, walked around the historic harbours then headed to Soy Kilts where Moira showed them how to make a kilt. After a very informative visit it was off to Portsoy's famous ice cream shop, the gift shop and Portsoy's Harrods of the North - the Thrift Shop. In the afternoon Anne McArthur taught the dancers the highland fling and the sword dance with some of her little dancers then it was a visit to Hook, Line and Sinker for a fish and chip supper and back on the minibus to Aberdeen. Ceilidh night Ice cream delight Kilt making Harbour walk Happy travellers Harbour Walk Estonian Group February 2024 Estonian Visitors News March 2024 Class with a Difference - 17th March 2024 by RSCDS Teacher, Isobel Turner RSCDS Banffshire “classes with a difference”, Sunday March 17, 2024, 2-4pm Arradoul SWI hall, by Buckie March 17 was a beautiful warm spring day; thank you to the 15 people who gave up the chance of being out in the sun and instead came along to the class. With myself that gave us the perfect number for 4-couple sets. I chose “valleys” as the theme for the day, including glens, straths, vales and dales. We started with “Glen Janet”, an easy jig from Newfoundland and a slight cheat as “Glen” in this case is a man’s name, Glen and Janet being a couple. We then danced “Ellwyn’s fairy glen”, an older reel by John M. Duthie not often danced these days, and we followed that with “Strathaird”, a strathspey for 4 couples from the Sheffield “Second sheaf” collection. The next two dances were a bit more challenging, the reel for 4 couples “Glens of Angus” from Book 23 and “Gladys McDonald of Glencoe”, a John Drewry jig from the Aberdeen 75 th anniversary collection. The next dance, rather easier, was again from the Sheffield “Second sheaf”, “The Don Valley Reel”. “Strathmore”, a 4-couple strathspey from Book 43, was quite tricky but could be danced just twice through and we were able to finish with another simpler reel, “Snowdrops in the glen” from the Glasgow 90 th anniversary book. Well done to everyone who attended and persevered with some of the more difficult dances – I hope you all found it was worth missing the sunshine! Isobel Turner

Scottish Country Dance Class, Fraserburgh The Fraserburgh Scottish Country Dance class is a social class where the 'eyes', 'smiles' and 'listening ears' are the key ingredients. The Teacher is Dr Anne McArthur, veteran of the Scottish Country Dance scene having qualified as a teacher in 1972. There is little that hasn't crossed her path in 50 years of teaching. All are welcome Contact by email Contact Anne by email click here Contact Anne by phone, click here Friday afternoon Dance Class Fraserburgh Scottish Country Dance class Dalrymple Hall, Fraserburgh 2pm to 3.30 pm Teacher Dr Anne McArthur 2025 Session Friday 10th January 2025 to 28th March 2025 All Welcome Dalrymple Hall, Fraserburgh - click here

Scottish Country dance class, Macduff on a Monday evening, fun fitness and frienship guaranteed. Scottish Country Dance class Macduff Alice Archibald, RSCDS Teacher I have been an SCD teacher with a class in Macduff since 1994 when I had just gained my Preliminary Certificate at St Andrews Summer School. After I gained my Full Certificate in 1996 I also started teaching the Class at St Ninian’s Church Hall in Turriff on Tuesday nights. I am still teaching both classes although since 2012 the Turriff class has been held in St Andrew’s Church Hall after the other Hall was closed and sold. For further information regarding the Macduff dance class see below Thank you Alice Telephone Alice Monday Evening Class 2025 Session Monday 6th January 2025 to Monday 12th May 2025 Buchan Street Hall (Macduff Pensioners Hall) Buchan Street, MacduffTime: 7.30pm to 9.00 pm Contact Alice Archibald on 07484837740Scottish Country dancing Fun, fitness and friendship!

Scottish Country Dance Summer Socials link to Dance Diary Summer Socials 2025 Link to Branch Events/Calendar

Scottish Country Dance class, Huntly Helen Kings and Jason Williamson and Elaine are the contacts for the Huntly class - click on the links below for phone numbers and email addresses. Helen contact by phone contact Helen by email Contact Jason by phone Contact Jason by email Contact Elaine by phone click here Huntly evening class - Wednesday Linden centre, Huntly New session Wedneday 8th January 2025 Follow us on FACEBOOK 7.00 pm to 9.00 pm The Linden centre, Huntly - click here

Miltonduff Scottish Country Dance classes Miltonduff SCD website Contact Miltonduff SCD club A yoga class uses Miltonduff hall before us on a Tuesday. In order to allow time for them all to leave our arrival time has changed and is now 7.30pm. Our classes will be Tuesdays 7.45-9.45pm Summer Socials 2025 - HERE Social dances on a Tuesday will be 8-10.30pm 7th June Summer Social Susie Simpson duo 22nd July Summer Social Ian Thomson duo 19th August Summer Social Susie Simpson duo Dance Diary - HERE 15th April Charity Dance in aid of CLAN CANCER CARE Susie Simpson duo The dance on Saturday 17th May remains at 7.30-11pm David Oswald SCD Band About Our Class Scottish Country Dancing is a great way to cheer yourself up. You quickly forget all your worries when you start to dance. Fully qualified RSCDS teachers Bill and Rosemary will show you the basics in a fun way. Fitness and Fun, make new friends, that's what it's all about We have a refreshment break at half time. Please bring your own cup, it helps reduce the washing up. We meet every Tuesday in the Village hall Miltonduff 7.30 - 9.30pm and the cost is £4 per class Our dancing season runs from September to May.

RSCDSBanffshire, children resource pack, buy online RSCDS Banffshire, publications Music by Frank Thomson/download free at RSCDS Banffshire childrens resources 90th anniversary CD Children's Resources The Banffshire Branch has a history of working with children and young people in the local schools . As part o f the 90th anniversary celebrations young people were involved in four days of dance across the Shire. This is a book of dances some written by pupils as part of their work towards RSCDS accreditation, each with an original tune and some resources for young people about the Country, called Banffshire. Frank Thomson recorded music for each of the dances in the 90th Anniversary package for children and young people. Frank was heavily involved in producing the music for the 90th Anniversary dances for children. Frank was also involved in recording and composing 'The Millbank Reel' for the 90th Anniversary dance book and CD.A big thank you to Frank for all he contributes to the Banffshire Branch 1. Highland Games 32-bar jig for four couples in a four couple longwise set 2. The Flying Dolphins 32-bar jig in a square set 3. The Ship of Dreams 32-bar hornpipe for four couples in a four couples longwise set 4. Morrai Jig 32-bar jig for four couples in a four couple longwise set 5. Rothes Castle 32-bar reel in a square set 6. Mosstowie Medley 32-bar strathspey and reel for four couples in a four couple longwise set 7. The Bonnie Viaducts of Cullen 32-bar jig for four couples in a four couple longwise set 8. The Schools Woods 32-bar jig for three couples in a three couple longwise set Highland Games Flying Dolphins Ship of Dreams Morrai Jig Mosstowie Medley Mosstowie Medley V2 Bonnie Viaducts of Cullen School Woods Rothes Castle To Purchase the 90th Anniversary book for Children and Young People The pack costs £6.00 plus post and package UK £1.50 EU £4.50 world £6.00 to order by post: Please send a cheque made payable to RSCDS BANFFSHIRE for the appropriate amount to Dr Anne McArthur 24 Aird Street Portsoy Aberdeenshire AB45 2 RB SCOTLAND Please click email link for further information or help Mail

RSCDSBanffshire Branch news June 2022 RSCDS BANFFSHIRE BRANCH SUMMER SOCIAL AT THE SAIL LOFT PORTSO Y A lovely afternoon of Scottish Country dancing was enjoyed by members of the Banffshire Branch and fellow dancers and friends on Sunday. 17th July and Sunday 21 August. Frank Thomson our musician played some fantastic tunes to set dances. Our callers Isobel Turner, Linda Thomas and Anne McArthur provided the dancers with a recap and a nice programme of well known dances was enjoyed by everyone. You can find the videos here RSCDS Banffshire Branch at the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival, Portsoy, Saturday 18th June 2022 A fun day was had at the Portsoy Boat Festival when members and friends of the RSCDS Banffshire Branch got together to promote Scottish Country Dancing. Enthusiastic members of the audience joined in the dancing and enjoyed themselves. Promotional leaflets for Banffshire SCD classes were given out to the audience and we had lots of positive feedback. Please contact the Secretary at rscdsbanffshire@gmail.com if you want further information about classes in and around Banffshire. Linda Thomas, RSCDS Banffshire Branch member called the dances and kept everyone on their toes. Thanks to Linda for organising this event. Audience participation in dancing Pudsey Bear, Scottish Country Dance Click here for you tube video Celebrating Her Majesty the Queen's Platinum Jubilee The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – Invitation to Service of Thanksgiving The RSCDS Banffshire Branch received an invite to attend a special service of Thanksgiving from the Buchan Presbytery to mark this significant occasion. A special service was held on Sunday 29th May in St Ninian’s and Forglen Church, Turriff. Over the seventy years of her reign, HM The Queen has actively supported many charities and professional groups. These cover all areas of national life. Alice Archibald and Linda Thomas, members of the RSCDS Banffshire Branch, represented the branch at the Service of Thanksgiving. Alice Archibald read out the following message at the service. The message was selected by Her Majesty the Queen In 2011, the Queen said: “Although we are capable of great acts of kindness, history teaches us that we sometimes need saving from ourselves - from our recklessness or our greed. God sent into the world a unique person - neither a philosopher nor a general (important though they are) - but a Saviour, with the power to forgive. Forgiveness lies at the heart of the Christian faith. It can heal broken families, it can restore friendships and it can reconcile divided communities. It is in forgiveness that we feel the power of God’s love.”

RSCDS Banffshire, meet the committee 2022/2023 RSCDS Banffshire Membership RSCDS Banffshire Committee 2024-2025 Committee Office Bearers May 2024 to May 2025 Chairperson Alice Archibald Vice Chair Liz Bulloch Secretary Linda Thomas contact by phone 07928401233 Treasurer Mavis Macdonald Please email Email: rscdsbanffshire@gmail.com for further information regarding the dance classes, social events, membership RSCDS Banffshire Committee 2024-2025 To join the RSCDS Banffshire branch A range of subscriptions available: 1st July 2024 to 30 June 2025 check out the form below for further information of membership fees and benefits To find out more about membership, please visit Membership information found here Membership form 24/25

RSCDS Banffshire Branch News April 2023 BRANCH NEWS APRIL 2023 The first of the ‘Classes with a Difference’ by Alice Archibald 02 April 2023 in the Institute Hall, Portsoy Report by RSCDS Teacher: Alice Archibald I decided that I had to check out all the 15 books of dances devised by John Drewry a former Lecturer at Aberdeen University and to make some of the formations he devised the subject of the Class with a Difference. These formations have been used by many devisers of dances. I did not have time to do a dance with Set and Rotate, Half Turn and Twirl and La Barratte. I started the Class with the dance Glayva, a jig, that was devised in 1977 with the new progression The Espagnole and then I did the dance The Kenora Reel with Petronella in Tandem. In The Bon Accord Book, published in 1968 is the dance The Silver Tessie which contained the new progression which was named by Miss Jean Milligan, Rondell The Courage Reel published in 1977 and containing the new formation Dance to Each Corner and Set! I had first encountered this formation in Gothenburg’s Welcome published in RSCDS Book 37.I then did The Lantern of the North, a jig, which contained the formation Pass and Turn with Corners. I had no idea that this formation which is in a lot of modern dances had been devised by John. The next dance was the reel, Ferla Mor [or the Big Grey Man) which contained tandem reels and having been published in1981 was certainly the first use of Tandem Reels I have encountered. The strathspey, Cherrybank Gardens, which contains the formation Petronella in Tandem. The last dance of the afternoon was Mrs McPherson of Inveran a lively reel and a dance which is fairly common on dance programmes locally which finishes with a circle which I particularly wanted to end the afternoon. I felt it was a successful afternoon and all enjoyed the programme I had prepared. I think it was a fun programme. A thank you message from Dianna Baillie, Chair of the RSCDS Banffshire Branch A big thanks to Alice for leading us through a very enjoyable dance class on Sunday. The theme for the afternoon was that of formations which first appeared in John Drewry dances - Espagnole, Petronella in tandem, Dance to each corner & set, Corners pass and turn, & Tandem reels were included in the dances Glayva, Kenora Reel, Silver Tassie, The Courage Reel, Lantern of the North, Cherrybank Gardens, Ferla Mor and Mrs McPherson of Inveran. All lovely dances & interesting to hear the story behind them. Looking forward to the next one on 5th May Check out Celebrating 100 Years of Scottish Country Dancing on our Centenary page here Dianna 'Class with a Difference' 4th June 2023 Report by Isobel Turner First dance was "The Queensferry crossing", devised by Moira Stephen from the Dunfermline 90th anniversary book, a 4 x 32 bar jig; simple but slightly unusual progression from 1st to 3rd place at the start with an allemande later to finish 2 3 4 1. Next was "The triumph", a 24 bar reel from Book 1 so tying in with the centenary - lead down and up with a twist (and some extra ones not in the instructions!) and very unusual 1-couple poussette from 1st to 4th place. "Mary Hamilton" is a 4 x 32 strathspey from John Drewry's Canadian book; simple progression in last 8 bars (set advancing to pass facing couple) but unusual start and finish to grand chain bars 1-8. I think we then did "Ready aye ready" from Ewan Galloway's "Ship ahoy!" booklet, devised by Sarah Horne (and Judy Grimsey?), a 5 x 32 reel (square set with 5th couple in the centre). Again, a simple progression 5th and 1st couples in promenade hold passing by right, the 1st and 4th couples passing and so on till 2nd couple are in the centre to start again but a new dance to most. We also did "Fare thee well", a 3 x 40 strathspey from "Tom's book of dances", devised by Tom Kerr (Capetown), ending with "untying the knot", which I think was a new progression for all of us. I did have another dance from a Ewan Galloway booklet, "Sarah's stamp party" but we didn't get round to that one (I always have more ready than we can actually do - it gives flexibility depending on numbers, ability, etc.) Report by Anne Taylor The theme for the afternoon was 'Progressions'. I began with a well known dance from RSCDS Book 49, The Countess of Dunmore’s Reel which has the Promenade Chaperon Chain. My second dance was The Athenaeum by Alistair Brown of the Glasgow Branch from the Glasgow 100th Anniversary book. This had the Rose Progression in the dance and it posed a little problem but we made it to finish the dance. My next dance had more local connections – The Blacksmith of Elgin from the Imperial Book. Wendy West thought that the Blacksmith of Elgin was her Grandfather. This dance has a Snowball Grand Chain and was well received. Salinas Grandes from the Argentinian Collection 2020 by Jim Stott was my next offering. This contained an unusual figure of a Promenade Pass which is just like a Promenade for 3 couples but has a slight twist in its tail. I would have liked to do a couple more dances but time was running out and we had to finish. All the dancers said it had been a good day and quite a challenge which is what it is meant to be. Anne Taylor 21 January 2024 Class with a Difference By Anne Taylor and Dianna Baillie A brief lull between severe weather warnings (the snow had disappeared overnight & storm Isha wasn’t due till evening) meant the class at Spey Bay was good to go. Anne & Dianna took it turn about to teach the dances (which all had ‘New’ in the title, as it was the first class of the New Year). We started off with ‘The New Forest Circle’ (New Forest SCD) as a warm up, then Newburgh Jig (Bk48). Anne took us through New Abbey (Roy Goldring) where we were encouraged to cover across all the sets and New Amsterdam (Chris Ronald, Big Apple Coll.) had a couple of new formations there to challenge us - a very enjoyable dance once we got it. The Newholme Jig (Ian Barbour, Magic Medicine), followed by ‘A Guid New Year’ (Maggie & Duncan Keppie) taught by Dianna and Anne finished off with ‘Ways in New Hall’ (Bk42) then ‘The New Opera’ (John Drewry, Australia Bk.) Ladies’ Chain, Espagnole, Set and Rotate, Rondel. The new ones - Celtic Cross Progression, Swing Corners and a modified Corners Pass and Turn (half turn & twirl instead of Turn) were formations covered. A very enjoyable afternoon had by all and can’t wait to see what Bill and Rosemary have in store for us next month.

Festival of Scottish Country dance, RSCDS Banffshire Festival of Scottish Country dance/RSCDS Banffshire archives, 80th Anniversary photos, RSCDS Banffshire archives Balmoral Visit Our most exciting event was in 2009 when the members of the branch travelled to Balmoral to dance for the Queen and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie. We were greatly honoured when Her Majesty the Queen kindly invited us to dance for her to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the formation of our Branch. We decided to perform some dances from our 75th Anniversary Book because these dances are all devised by Banffshire Branch members and/or are inspired by a Banffshire connection. The event needed live music and Colin Dewar and his Band (who recorded our 75th Anniversary CD) were happy and able to fit us (and Her Majesty) into their crowded schedule. On Tuesday, 11th August at midday about 40 Branch members and 16 children from local schools crowded onto the coach in Keith. On arriving at Balmoral we all had our photo ID's checked (passports, driving licences, bus passes, etc.) before proceeding to the tea room where we were to perform. We received a friendly greeting from Clare Russell, the Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire. The area for dancing was slightly less than we expected, so we decided to abandon the children's static display during 'We've nae Electric'. We got ready and put on our dancing shoes while the Band finished setting up and we had a quick practice of walking on and off (always more difficult than the actual dancing!) while the Band were changing out of 'just do it' tee-shirts into something slightly more suitable for the occasion. The Dancers and the Band then had a practice. After the practice, with just a few minutes to go we all stood, puffing and hearts beating, in our sets ready for Findlater Castle, waiting for Her Majesty. When she arrived (with Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie), our Chairman, Gary Coull, gave a short introductory speech and the music and dancing started. Our programme: Findlater Castle Compliments to Jessie Bain The Homecoming Dance - children The Hills of Alba Gourdieburn Round Reel of Eight - children We've nae Electric The dancing and the music all went well, with nothing worse than the occasional hesitation or poorly-pointed foot (hopefully, She didn't notice!) Her Majesty and the two Princesses appeared to be very happy with our performance. Toe-tapping was observed! Mrs. Jean Mair devisor of 'Compliments to Jessie Bain' presented Her Majesty with Banffshire Branch CDs and dance books. The Royal party then spent a considerable time walking amongst us, talking with us and asking questions. Her Majesty even asked what the floor was like to dance on. (It was hard but not slippery.) We were treated to tea and biscuits and had plenty of time to chatter before piling back onto the coach to return to Keith. It was a highly successful event and, after having danced for the Queen, we are left wondering - what can we do next? .

NORTH EAST SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCE EVENTS To purchase Celebrating 90 years of SCD - Banffshire Branch CD and Book click here RSCDS Forres events dance information found here RSCDS Inverness events - dance information found here Miltonduff SCD events - danc e information found here RSCDS Aberdeen branch dance diary SCD Events Scotland - found here