Summer Socials 2025 Miltonduff Summer Socials 2025 Summer Social held in Forres Town Hall Monday 12th May 7.30 -10.30pm Monday 9th June Monday 14th July Monday 11th August Further info on the above nearer the time. Miltonduff SCD website can be found here

Link to Banffshire Branch Events DANCE DIARY 2024/2025 NOVEMBER 2024 Friday 29th November Mosstodloch Rally 7.30 pm to 11pm Speymouth Hall, Mosstodloch Dancing to Frank Thomson Dancers £10 Spectators £5 Please bring your own cup Light upper will be served Programme here Crib here Videos of the dances here DECEMBER 2024 RSCDS Aberdeen Branch Christmas dance Ashdale Hall, WESTHILL Friday 13 December 2024 8 PM Dancing to Neil Galloway CRIB CAN BE FOUND HERE Link to video dances can be found here RSCDS Forres Branch dance FORRES TOWN HALL Friday 27th December 2024 7.30pm to 11 pm £12.00 Dancing to Frank Thomson and his Scottish Country Dane Band JANUARY 2025 MARCH 2025 FEBRUARY 2025 No dances notified No dances notified Buckie Rally Friday 7th March 2025 8 pm to midnight Fishermen's Hall Buckie Dancing to Colin Donaldson More details to follow Miltonduff Xmas Party, 17th December, 7.30-10pm, CDs, Free Entry, Light Supper, bring a cup. (prog tba) Miltonduff SCD website can be found here RSCDS PETERHEAD BRANCH ANNUAL DANCE Longside Church Hall Sunday 16th March 2025 2pm to 4.30 pm £10 Dancer Spectators welcome at £3.00 Dancing to Scott Band Tea & Raffle CRIB (tree friendly) CRIB (eye friendly ) Programme Videos of the dances found her e Please bring your own cup In times of adverse weather, please check with organiser regarding the event going ahead Contacts found here RSCDS Forres events dance information found here RSCDs Inverness events - dance information found here Miltonduf f SCD events - danc e information found here RSCDS Aberdeen branch dance diary SCD Events Scotland - found here

Summer News 2024 Aberdeenshire - Argentina Links Spanish language here Jim Stott's dances : Welcome to Argentina, Aberdeenshire meets Argentina and Salinas Grandes were three of the dances chosen for a South American Event in the Vinery, Banff on Saturday 17th August. This was a celebration of Banff's relationship with Argentina. José de San Martin, the liberator of Argentina from the Spanish met the Duke of Fife at the Battle of Waterloo. He came to Banff in 1824 and was given the Freedom of the Burgh. This weekend celebrated the 200th anniversary of his visit. RSCDS Banffshire's link with the BASC Dancers of Buenos Aires has grown over the last five years with visits to Buenos Aires by Gordon, Liz and Anne and to Banffshire (Aberdeenshire) by Charly, Fernando and Valen. Long may this Aberdeenshire - Argentina connection continue. A second set of dances related to Banffshire: Findlater Castle; The Braes of Strathlene and The Hills of Alba were performed by a group of RSCDS Banffshire Ladies. Report by Anne McArthur RSCDS Banffshire Branch To view the demonstration -click link You Tube Welcome to Argentine Aberdeenshire Meets Argentina Salinas Grandes Jim Stott Dance Collection 2020 Findlater Castle Bill Forbes: Jubilee Book 1929-2004 [Banffshire] The Braes of Strathlene Bill Forbes: Jubilee Book 1929-2004 [Banffshire] The Hills of Alba Bob Taylor: Jubilee Book 1929-2004 [Banffshire] The RSCDS Banffshire Branch Archives - 1929-present day are now safely stored in the Salmon Bothy Loft, Portsoy. If any of our members or friends of RSCDS Banffshire Branch have assets they want to store at the Bothy, please email rscdsbanffshire@gmail.com with the relevant information. Congratulations to Dianna Baillie, Banffshire Branch in succesfully completing her Core Teaching Instructor Certificate (CTI) Photograph Anne Taylor, Branch member presenting Dianna with her Statement of Proficiency certificate on completion of the CTI Course Report by Anne Taylor, RSCDS Banffshire Branch "I had been involved in the planning stage of the Core Training for Instructors (CTI) as Chair of the Education and Training Committee. However, during the latter part of the decision-making, I had to demit this position due to ill health. I then became a Trainer for the CTI course which meant telling dancers about it and then helping them to take part. Dianna Baillie was interested as she had taken over the Fochabers class vacated by Margaret Cowie. I was required to visit Dianna's class and then to report back to her with anything to help her manage her class. Instructors are judged on the ability and style of the class they lead. Social dancing is the main focus in the classes we teach in the Banffshire Branch. Dianna took all comments with grace and understanding and tried to incorporate suggestions into her class. The class were very supportive of Dianna and worked with her along her journey. During this time, I myself became ill and was not always able to visit Dianna's class. But Dianna often came to the Spey Bay afternoon class which I took. I asked her to teach one or two dances during the class and this turned out to be very worthwhile, as Dianna was teaching another class. We did not do much step work but did look at the formations and how to do them." Once Dianna had fulfilled the requirements of the course, a video of her final lesson and her lesson plan were submitted to the RSCDS office in Edinburgh. We are delighted that Dianna was successful and received her Statement of Proficiency as an Instructor of Scottish country danci

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

The History of RSCDS Banffshire Branch 1929 to present day Esmaspäeval, 9. septembril 1929 Buckie's toimunud avalikul koosolekul moodustati algselt Buckie and District Scottish Country Dance Society, kuid esimesel aastakoosolekul muudeti pealkiri Banffshire'i filiaaliks. Need algklassid Buckies levisid peagi, kui meie esimene tantsuõpetaja hr John Duncan koos preili Nen Watsoni ja proua Jean Mairiga andis tunde Forglenis, Marnochis ja Cornhillis. Traditsioon on kestnud juba üle 90 aasta. Ootame uusi liikmeid igas vanuses ja võimetega Šoti Kuningliku Kantritantsu Seltsi Banffshire'i filiaali 90. aastapäeva tähistamine - CD ja tantsuraamat - Külastage meie 90. aastapäeva veebisaiti

80th Anniversary of the Banffshire Branch The Banffshire Branch Annual Dance on 13th November at the Fisherman's Hall in Buckie was rather special. The evening started with a drinks reception, giving plenty of time to catch up on news and gossip while, behind the scenes, there was some 'fighting with technology' before the 'slide-show' of the dancing at Balmoral could be enjoyed by all. The dance was very well attended by dancers from far and wide. As befits the Occasion, there were speeches, cake-cutting, a surprise presentation and press photographs. When the formalities had been completed and the dancing started, the music was ably provided by Colin Dewar and his band. Cutting the celebration cake is Jessie Stuart, Jean Mair and Anne McArthur at the 80th Anniversary Dance Anne McArthur presentation for the Branch Award 2009 Amongst those present were RSCDS President Alistair McFayden and RSCDS Chairman - elect Ruth Beattie. Anne McArthur was honoured (and astounded) to receive a branch Award. Banffshire Branch Chairman, Gary Coull, read out the Citation and the award was presented by RSCDS President Alistair Mc Fadyen. A Branch award is not achieved easily. It is given in recognition of an extended period of dedication and commitment to the Branch and to Scottish Country Dancing. Other award holders are Jean Mair, Pat Lemmon, Jessie Stuart and Betty & Walter Rutherford. Everybody agreed that Anne well deserved her Award. She is a former Chairman of the Branch and the Secretary at the time of the Award. She was the driving force in the production of our 75th Anniversary Dance Book and the subsequent CD. she has spent many years teaching and encouraging children and adults. Anne's quiet hard work and dedication has put Banffshire on the RSCDS map. Group photograph and On with the dancing celebrating 80 years of dancing for RSCDS Banffshire Branch

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

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, Dufftown Contact Kate by phone click here Mortlach Memorial Hall - directions click here DUFFTOWN SCD CLUB Kate Strathdee, RSCDS Teacher TUESDAY evening class Dufftown class Mortlach Memorial Hall, Dufftown 2024 Classes will resume in September 2024 Tuesday 17th September 2024 to Tuesday 10th December 2024 2025 Tuesday January 7th 2025 to Tuesday 1 April 2025 Contact Kate for further information Follow us of Social media click the link to Facebook below Phone

This weekend, dignitaries including Scotland's culture minister will gather in the unlikely surrounds of Glasgow's Hard Rock Cafe. However, it won't be the Rolling Stones or Guns 'N Roses that Christina McKelvie and others are there to hear but accordion music . On November 26, 1923, a public meeting was held in the Buchanan Street building, then the Atheneum. Efforts to attract attendees had been bolstered with an advert in The Herald. As it was, around 17 Glaswegians gathered in the hall, with a shared purpose - to enjoy one of Scotland's most celebrated traditions and ensure its survival. From those humble beginnings and over a period of 100 years the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society (RSCDS) has grown into a global organisation with 73 branches in Scotland , 37 in Canada, 11 in Japan and even one in Hawaii. One branch in New Zealand covers the entire country while the Paris group is "growing like mad." Scottish country dancing is, according to the Society, one of the country's best exports, with figures showing RSCDS’s members outside Scotland boosted the country's economy by more than £2.3M last year. That sum doesn’t count the local economic impact of society members renting halls for dances and classes and hiring caterers and bands. While it might conjure up unwelcome memories of sweaty-palmed pairings in the school gym hall, society leaders say it's never been more popular. One of the best-attended branches is at the University of Glasgow. Like TV's Strictly Come Dancing, it has moved with the times. Partners are free to dance with whoever they want, says William Williamson, chair of the Society. "We've got this strapline of Fun, Fitness and Friendship and that is really the essence of what it does," he says. "Everyone can dance with whoever they like. It's that magic of the dance and the music and the inclusivity and the Scot wanting people to join in. It's a great export." That first meeting of the society was organised by Michael Diack (June 26, 1869 - February 2, 1946) a Scottish musician, who oversaw the teaching of music in the Glasgow area. He founded the Glasgow Bach Choir in 1906 and made English translations of choral works by classical masters. In 1923 he suggested a meeting with founders Ysobel Stewart, who wanted to publish a book of Scottish country dances for the Girl Guides movement and Jean Milligan, who was keen to encourage more men to take it up as part of the PE course at Jordanhill College. Glasgow's Paterson's Publications, which was formed two years later, agreed to print a first book of dances to get the society up and running. "They had dances like the Petronella, The Flowers of Edinburgh, Strip the Willow and the Duke of Perth and those are dances that people still do today," says Mr Williamson. As the society was growing, ex-pats would take the music all over the world . But it's all about the Scot going abroad to live there and taking their music and dance but not keeping it to themselves and saying 'Come on and join us. That's the great thing. "Obviously the Americas and Canada are big and Australia and New Zealand is big. "We've got three huge branches in Japan which I've visited in the past and it's all Japanese people and we've got a lovely branch in Buenos Aires." In 1951 under George VI and the future Queen, the group became the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society. Most of the dance steps are preserved in books, images an original short film of dancers in the Borders dating back to 1930. I've danced since I was at school here, says Mr Williamson, a long-time member, who lives in Dumfriesshire. It brings people together and it doesn't matter what age you are. "It's a real leveler, the dance floor. It doesn't matter if you are a rocket scientist or someone who works on the land and you make life-long friends. "We have branches all over the world and I often ask myself, why would folk in Buenos Aires want to learn Scottish Country Dancing? "Other countries have traditional dancing but it tends to be trailed out for the tourists and it's stuck in a particular period, whereas, ours has developed and folk turn up to classes in their jeans and in their shorts. "It's a living tradition, which means there are still people composing music and tunes and devising dances." While dancers will generally dress up in kilts and ball gowns for a ball, jeans and trainers are perfectly acceptable for less formal occasions. He says pupils in secondary schools still learn dances like the Dashing White Sergeant for the Christmas dance, albeit in smaller numbers and the society is working hard to ensure the tradition continues. Earlier this year, a university society that promotes Scottish country dancing came under fire for insisting that only male and female pairs can attend its "highly esteemed Martinmas and Candlemass reeling balls" at Fingask Castle. The St Andrews Caledonian Society - dubbed CalSoc, was accused of promoting a discriminatory policy and a "dust-covered" relic on a bygone era. Mr Williamson says inclusivity is at the heart of the SCDS. "It wasn't a case of changing any rules, it's always been inclusive," he says. "People can dance on any side of the dance they want. "Our main thrust now is to look ahead," he added. "Almost think, like they did after the First World War, we've got to think, how do we make this relevant in 2023 because it is such a wonderful pastime." He says ceilidh dancing has huge benefits for older people, physically and cognitively. "We have got people dancing in their nineties and it keeps them fit and healthy," says the society's chair. "There is a huge benefit, both physically and mentally, remembering all the dances. "I was at a dance event recently and there were 22 dances in the programme and there were people in their eighties dancing every single dance. "It's kept them fit, it's kept them sharp. Various universities have looked at this and have said that it's one of the best all-round regimes there is." He says that while membership is growing, with 10,000 world-wide the society is looking at how it can boost numbers in some areas of Scotland where country dancing " doesn't do so well". We are training teachers all the time," he says. "The university groups are doing well again so that's encouraging." Malin Altenmüller 29, has danced for most of her life in her home country of Germany, where traditional Scottish dancing is popular. She is now a member of the Glasgow Society, after moving to the city in 2016 to study at Strathclyde University as part of the Erasmus programme. "There is a real community in Germany," she says. "and when I came here it seemed like a good opportunity to meet people. She acknowledges that it's a very different thing to be forced into country dancing at school and choosing to do it for pleasure as an adult. "There's a real sense of community and you know you can go dancing anywhere," she says. "I've been on work trips and taken my dance shoes. "Ceilidhs are still really popular and the [branch events] are a really similar atmosphere. "Quite often there is live music, particularly here in Scotland and I enjoy that a lot. It definitely keeps me fit. There's something for every level." Her favourite is the Cranberry Tart. On Sunday, a blue plaque will be unveiled on Buchanan Street to mark the spot where the Society was formed and a flash mob of Scottish country dancers will entertain Christmas shoppers. A civic reception will also be held later at Glasgow City Chambers. "We've weathered the storm," says the Society's leader. "Various fashions have come and gone like line dancing but we are still there." The 100-year-old Glasgow institution that reels in millions for Scotland RSCDS BANFFSHIRE BRANCH CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING 1923 TO 2023 Celebrating 100 Years of RSCDS Scottish country dancers from around the world came together on Saturday 25th March to celebrate 100 years of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society with a Centenary Ball at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh. Dr Anne McArthur, life member of RSCDS Banffshire Branch attended the event Please find report below Author Dr Anne McArthur Chair E lect, Gary Coull, RSCDS Banffshire member along with Dr Anne McArthur life member of RSCDS Banffshire Branch All set, ready to Dance! It was back in 1973, as a young dancer, I participated in the celebrations of the 50th Anniversary of the RSCDS. Miss Milligan's Strathspey, Mrs Stewart of Fasnacloich, and the Jubilee Jig were published. The AGM was in Glasgow, in three venues across the city, a red dress, every dance on the programme tackled. (There were no recaps then.). I remember wondering if I would be around for the 100th Anniversary. When word came out that the Centenary Celebration was to be in the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh I was at the front of the queue to get a ticket. I had danced many times there and had wonderful memories of mirrors, chandeliers, walking between the Assembly Rooms and Music Room. Of course, it was mostly about meeting friends and talking about dancing. Gary and I were the only Banffshire members present on the 25th March, Gary officiating and me reminiscing. Over 400 people attended the event from all over the world. I was pleased to see many young people, with more than one I had taught at Junior Summer School, but I missed my friends of days gone bye. A gift and a celebratory programme were handed out on entry. Prosecco and cake was provided at half time. David Oswald and friends were 'on fire' in the Assembly Room while Marian Anderson's band was more sedate in the Music Room. The programme was a great mix of old and new. It was a night to remember. Headquarters opened for members on the 25th. There was a wonder display of archival material. I remember Miss Milligan, Miss Ross with her knitting, Miss Florence Adams, Miss Hadden, Mrs Dunn, Miss Anderson, Colonel Gibson etc etc. You might recognise dances named after them. RSCDS Edinburgh ran events over the weekend. My friends and I attended a great dance in St Cuthberts Church on the Friday night. Ewan Galloway was in great form. For me, the 'Jewel' of weekend was the Centenary Concert in the Canongate Church. Muriel Johnstone, Pete Clark, Peter Shand and Tim Macdonald delighted a large audience with an amazing programme of Scottish music linked to the dances we know. It truly touched my soul. 'A really good dance lives, flows and becomes a part of the music. You see, the music really comes first. The dance, mostly, should be written to the music. You therefore get that lovely combination of music and movement which I consider dancing.' (Miss Jean C. Milligan, interview, 1970s) Life long member John Grant, Buckie enjoying a dram of the Centenary Whisky Celebrating 100 Years of Scottish Country Dancing Fasnacloich aged for 10 Years John and his wife Pat had a visit from Mo Rutherford and Neil Copland who are well known in the Scottish Country Dance music circuit. Back row: Pat Grant, Neil Copland John Grant (seated) To purchase the Fasnacloich Whisky visit the RSCDS shop here Banffshire Branch Sunday 7th May RSCDS Centenary Celebration What a super afternoon we had at the Church Centre, Portsoy, dancing to the excellent music played by Frank Thomson. The Banffshire Branch celebrated the RSCDS Centenary by having their Classes with a Difference programme based on the 'Dances through the Decades' produced by the Society. As the Church Centre was also providing refreshments for the Portsoy Coronation celebrations, the community coming in for their cuppa were able to enjoy watching the dancing from the tables set at the back of the hall. The afternoon started with the cutting of the cake by Banffshire Branch life members John Grant (life member 1954) and Dr Anne McArthur. John & wife Pat were then able to sit back & enjoy the music and a blether, sharing the many memories of their dancing days. The Branch AGM was held prior to the dancing and we were delighted to be joined by RSCDS Chair-elect Gary Coull who officiated at the meeting. A big thank you to the outgoing committee for all the hard work done in organising the Branch events throughout the previous year and welcome to our new volunteers filling the role of Chair (Alice Archibald), Vice chair (Liz Bulloch) and Secretary (Linda Thomas); thank you to Mavis Mcdonald for agreeing to continue as Treasurer. Following the meeting, we were pleased to welcome Mr Vinay Ruparelia, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire, who presented the Branch with a letter from Buckingham Palace appreciating the efforts to organise an event to celebrate the Coronation. Frank Thomson provided excellent music to accompany our dances, and these were interspersed with some well-known ceilidh dances which encouraged some of our audience who had just come in for a tea & cake, to join us on the dancefloor. It was a fantastic afternoon and all too soon we were joining hands and singing ‘Auld Lang Syne’. Thanks to Anne for calling the dances, Frank for the super music, Mr Vinay Ruparelia for opening the afternoon, & Gary for officiating And special thanks to Anne and Liz for all their hard work behind the scenes to get everything organised and running smoothly on the day. Dianna Baillie (Chair Person May 2022 to May 2023). Cutting the cake Chair Dianna Baillie, John Grant life member and Dr Anne McArthur life member

RSCDS Banffshire Branch The RSCDS Banffshire Branch had a great afternoon of Scottish Country Dancing at the Portsoy Boat festival on the afternoon of Saturday 1st July 2023. Linda Thomas started off the afternoon with the Circassian Circle an 'easy peasy' dance that everyone was able to join in with. We had a selection of Scottish Country Dances along with some Ceilidh dancing. We had lots of enthusiastic dancers of all ages on the floor having fun! If you are interested in joining a Scottish Country Dance class Check out a dance class in your area Dance classes Videos can be found here

DANCING CLASSES 2022 - 2023 All classes are held weekly In adverse weather conditions, please check with contact person for the class you attend MONDAY CLASSES BUCKIE dance class information can be found here MACDUFF dance class information can be found here TUESDAY CLASSES DUFFTOWN dance class information can be found here MILTONDUFF dance class information can be found here MOSSTODLOCH dance class information found here TURRIFF dance class information can be found here WEDNESDAY CLASSES FOCHABERS dance class information can be found here HUNTLY dance class information can be found here MULBEN dance class information can be found here THURSDAY CLASSES FORGLEN, TURRIFF dance Class information found here KEITH dance class information can be found here SPEY BAY dance class information can be found here FRIDAY (afternoon class) FRASERBURGH dance class information can be found here