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 New session: Monday 8th September 2025 to Monday 8th December 2025 Contact Alice Archibald on 07484837740Scottish Country dancing Fun, fitness and friendship!

RSCDS Banffshire Branch attending the RSCDS AGM November 2024 Autumn Gathering November 2024 The 'Ladies of Banffshire' attending the Autumn Gathering in Edinburgh 1st to 3rd November 2024 Gary Coull, Chair of the RSCDS, November 2024 Photograph Anne Taylor, Alice Archibald, Gary Coull, Wendy West, Linda Thomas and Anne McArthur Gary is a Banffshire member Frank Thomson, Musician Frank received the RSCDS 'Scroll of Honour' (nominated by the RSCDS Aberdeen Branch) from William Williamson (outgoing Chair) As Gary would say 'Bosies!!!!!! Congratulations from all at the RSCDS Banffshire Branch

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 Talveuudised jaanuar - märts 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, Spey Bay Spey Bay Thursday - afternoon class Spey Bay Hall 2.00 till 3.30 pm Teacher Dianna Baillie 18th September 2025 to end date TBC Thursday 8th January 2026 2026 8th January 2026 end date TBC Email address Contact phone number

launch of the 75th anniversary dance book and CD/A the best fae Banffshire/Findlater Castle/Gourdieburn/SCD Mail 75th Anniversary Dance Book and CD In 2004 the Banffshire Branch of the RSCDS published a Jubilee book of locally inspired dances to celebrate 75 years of Scottish Country Dancing in Banffshire. The book contains 12 dances together with 12 tunes, illustrations and notes. The dances are as follows: Findlater Castle (R8x32) Compliments to Jessie Bain (S4x32) The Birlin' Birkie (J8x32) The braes of Strathlene (S8x32) Travelling to America (R8x40) Gourdieburn (S3x32) The Glenrothes (J4x32) Moranbank (S8x32) We've nae Electric (R5x32) A Glint of Gold (S4x32) The Tripitup Troupe (J8x32) The Hills of Alba (R4x32) You can download a free copy of the RSCDS Banffshire Branch Jubilee Book as a pdf file and save it on your device and/or print it. 75th banffshire_book.pdf A' the best fae Banffshire - 75 Years of Scottish Country Dancing £10 for CD plus post and packing CD Launch 30 June 2006 The CD contains music for all the dances in the book, together with a couple of 'encores' and extra dance sets. The music is perfectly suitable for dances which are not in the book. To order By post Send a cheque made payable to RSCDS Banffshire f or the appropriate amount to Dr Anne McArthur, 24 Aird Street, Portsoy, Aberdeenshire, AB45 2RB Scotland T o pay by BACS Sort code: 80 06 66 Account Number 00471060 For postage add the following costs: UK £2.00 EU £4.50 World £6.00 EMAIL ENQUIRIES CLICK BELOW Mail

Scottish Country Dance class Fochabers Wednesday evening dance class Bellie Hall, Fochabers 7.30 pm to 9.00 pm 2025 Wednesday 17th September to end date TBC 2026 Wednesday 7th January 2026 to end date TBC Scottish Country dancing Fun Fitness and Friendship The Bellie Scottish Country Dance class meets in Bellie Church Hall, Fochabers on Wednesday nights from 7.30pm until 9pm. Our teacher, Dianna, a very experienced dancer herself and has completed the RSCDS CTI Certificate We are a mixed ability class with some novice dancers and, recently, a few teenagers. All are very welcome. We like starting with a ‘round-the-room”dance which not only warms us up but enables us to change partners and get to know everyone. We use this time to practice the dance steps to the music. Dianna will also teach us some dances for up-coming rallies so that we don’t feel too nervous. All dancers have a very enjoyable even Contact Sandra by phone Contact Dianna by phone click here Contact Sandra by email

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

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.”

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.

Find out what RSCDS Banffshire Branch has planned to keep dancers busy during the Winter months. Our classes with a difference is suitable for everyone to come and join in the fun,fitness and friehship, SCD brings to everyone Autumn/Winter news 2024 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 clic k 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.

SUMMER SOCIALS Dance Diary 2025 Banffshire EVENTS ipad users note scroll across table for more information/TOP TIP - viewing on mobile phone - change to desktop view - click the three dots top of phone and select desktop view N.E SCD SCOTLAND EVENTS (for the up to date dance diary social events - pleae click the link below. L INK HERE