top of page

Classes with a Difference
Come and join us
Interested find out more details click here 

Autumn/Winter news 2024

Alice and Gary.JPG

Branch Dance 8th November 2024

Celebrating 95th Anniversary

Established 1929 to present day 

The Branch dance was held in the Fisherman's Hall, Buckie on Friday 8th November dancing to Colin Dewar's Scottish Country Dance band.  There were 8 sets on the floor with a number of spectators enjoing the music and the dancing.

Gary Coull, Chair of the RSCDS and a member of the Banffshire Brnch cut the anniversary cake along with the Chair of the Branch, Alice Archibald.

A thank message from Alice Archibald: 

I just wanted to say thank you to all those who contributed in any way to the very successful night of dancing at Buckie last night.  I have not yet heard about the finances, but as far as enjoyment, friendship and energy goes it was a wonderful night. Mavis, thanks to you and your helpers everyone was welcomed with a smile, Anne, the cake was very good and sliced up well.  The music was so very clear and crisp and all the callers were very clear and crisp too!! Isobel, the programme was very much up to your usual standard and really enjoyed by all.  Linda, the catering was very good and everyone said how much they enjoyed being back to “normal “ dancing conditions. Gary, it was so good to have you there in your official capacity and the Branch feels honoured to have the “Chair” as a member. 

Thank you all again

Alice Archibald

Chair of RSCDS Banffshire Branch

A link to the videos from the 8th November dance click here 

Photos here

'Being there'

Our first of the Branch's Classes with a Difference was held in the Institute Hall Portsoy on  Sunday 29th September 2024

Anne McArthur took the class on a trip around the world. The first dance was in memory of
Malcolm Brown, 'Links with St Petersburg'. He made many teaching trips to Russia and died
recently. It was over Europe and Asia to dance Jim Stott's 'A Trip to Japan' to celebrate a recent
dancing school in Kamakura just south of Tokyo. 'A Flight to Melbourn' followed to the cultural
city of Australia. Next stop was South Africa to dance 'A Trip to the Drakensbergs' the mountain
range that lies on the east coast of SA. A 15 hour flight from Jo'burg took the dancers to Buenos
Aires to dance 'Aberdeenshire meets Argentina' while  thinking of our Branch's links with our
Argentinian friends. It was right up the east coast of the Americas to Boston to go to Pinewoods to
dance the 'Pinewoods Reel'  from the Centenary Book then it was home to dance 'Anne of Portsoy'.

27th OCTOBER 2024

RSCDS Teacher Kate Strathdee

 

The theme for the class  was dance names  synonymous with Robert Burns,

who in around 1779 as a young man began attending country dancing lessons in Tarbolton. He writes: "In my seventeenth year, to give my manners a brush, I went to a country dancing school.

 

 My programme came about while researching the dance Linkumdoddie, devised by John Drewry this was the second dance on my programme.The title of this dance comes from the thatched cottage known as Linkumdoddie referred to in the Willie Wastle – Poem written by Robert Burns in 1792.

The other dances on my programme were :

 

TWA SPARKLING EEN (J8x32) 3C (4C set) Iain Boyd

The title of this dance, Twa Sparkling Een, comes from The Lass Of Cessnock Banks - Song written by Robert Burns in 1780.

CAULD KAIL (M-8x(S16+R16)) 3C (4C set) RSCDS Book 9 Strathspey
On a tour of the Highlands around 1787 and arriving in the city of Bon Accord

Robbie Burns wrote Cauld Kail In Aberdeen - Song

 

 MY SPOUSE NANCY (R8x32) 3C (4C set) Jim Taylor RSCDS Leaflet Dances 22

 A song written by Robert Burns in 1792

 

MY WIFE'S A WINSOME WEE THING (J8x32) 3C (4C set) Tony Moretti Pinewoods Collection 2

A song written by Robert Burns in 1792

 

THE LEA RIG (S8x32) 2C (4C set) RSCDS Book 21

Robert Burns writes “To Meet thee on the Lea-rig, My ain Kind Dearie”

 

THE DUSTY MILLER (J8x32) 3C (4C set) Border Book

Another song written by Robert Burns in 1788.

bottom of page