January to April 2025 Branch News January 2025 BRANCH NEWS RSCDS WINTER SCHOOL 2025 16th February to 20th February 2025 Three members of the RSCDS Banffshire Branch attended Winter School this year held in the Atholl Palace Hotel, Pitlochry. Kate Strathdee, well known Scottish Country Dance Teacher, was on her 22nd Year at Winter School. The Winter School has classes for all levels of dancers and a superb programme of social events during the five nights of the School. One of the highlights was an afternoon session held by Jimmy Hill, RSCDS Teacher who taught “The Lancers and The Quadrilles”. Jimmy is an enthusiastic individual with a sound knowledge of this type of dancing from the 17th and 18th centuries. The event was very well received by all who attended. The finale is the Ball held in Blair Atholl Castle. The evening started with a warm welcome by a piper and a glass of wine or soft drink, followed by the traditional “Grand March” and then the “Traditional Eightsome Reel”. The five piece dance band was fantastic with uplifting music played by Ewan Galloway on first accordion for the first half of the evening and Jim Linday on second box. For the second part of the evening Jim took the lead. Ian Robertson, the Director of Winter School is an exceptional all round musician. His fiddle playing was fantastic along with Muriel Johnstone on piano/keyboard - all accomplished musicians. Ian did a wonderful job as Director. If you have not been at Winter School before, the dates for next year are : 15th - 20th February 2026. To find out more about the event – Here – RSCDS Winter School 2026 Gordon, Liz, Jim, Kate, Gary and Charly Liz, Gary, Kate and Gordon The impressive ballroom in Blair Atholl Castle Gordon, Liz, Jim, Kate, Gary and Charly 1/4 RSCDS Chair, Gary Coull and RSCDS Banffshire member along with Kate Strathdee, Charly Candia (Management Board rep for Banffshire Branch) and Jim Stott, Chair of RSCDS Aberdeen Branch CLASSES WITH A DIFFERENCE The Banffshire Branch introduced 'Classes with a Difference' following a Theme of the teachers' choice. The teachers try and choose dances that are not on the 'Rally/Social Dance programmes'. We are very fortunate to have 13 Dance classes across Banffshire/North East of Scotland, all taught by RSCDS Banffshire qualifited Teachers and Core Teaching Instructors. To find a dance class near your - check out all the dance classes available HERE DATE FOR YOUR DIARY Our next 'Class with a Difference' will be held on the 30 March 2025 in Arradoul Hall, Buckie. Full details of the event can be found here - BRANCH EVENTS Class with a Difference - 16th February 2025 - by Linda Thomas The dances were all entitled “Welcome to …” or “Trip to …” and included Having moved around quite a lot in her life, Linda Thomas chose as her theme the notion of Hello and Goodbye. Welcome to the Stagger Inn Welcome to Ayr A Trip to Tobermory (Drewry) A Trip to the Netherlands Welcome to Dufftown A Trip to Disney Welcome to Argentina A Trip to Somewhere Else A Trip to Timber Ridge A Trip to Lunenburg (the only dance to include the Hello Goodbye formation) Twelve dancers had an enjoyable afternoon with some interesting moments and lots of laughter. Classes with a Difference Sunday 26th January Theme - BEES & HONEY The weather was kind and we had a good turn-out of dancers at Spey Bay Hall, who were introduced to another of my interests – Beekeeping! We began with a round-the-room dance, “Johnnie’s Jig” as a warm up (I was introduced to beekeeping when John got our first colony of bees in 2010). Then a reel, “The Lonely Honeybee” (scout bee returns to the hive and gives her fellow workers directions to a good source of nectar). After that we went to the apiary to look after the bees as we danced “The Beekeepers Medley” and another reel “Beeswing”. Bees need plants, and plants need bees (and gardens and gardeners), so we danced “The Compleat Gardener”, “Cherrybank Gardens” and “More Bees A-Dancing”. “The Bees of Maggieknockater” took us back to the apiary for the honey harvest and “The Honey Moon” jig. Finally, when moving bees onto the heather, a beekeeper has to be a bit of a “Highland Rambler”, and so we ended a lovely afternoon. Report by Dianna Baillie CTI Teacher of Scottish Country Dancing The dances – Johnnie’s Jig, Sheila Gradon (St. Columba’s Book) The Lonely Honeybee, Dorothy Bell (RSCDS Belfast Platinum Anniversary) The Beekeeper’s Medley, Trevor Rayner (A Skye Collection 2) Beeswing, Roy Goldring (Graded & Social Dances 2) The Compleat Gardener, Irene Paterson (RSCDS Graded Book 3) Cherrybank Gardens, John Drewry (Bankhead Book 1 / RSCDS 30 Popular Dances 2) More Bees a-Dancing, Roy Goldring (Graded & Social Dances 2) The Bees of Maggieknockater, John Drewry (Canadian Book / RSCDS 30 Popular Dances 2) The Honey Moon, W.E. Allan (Miss Milligan’s Miscellany) The Highland Rambler, Roy Goldring (RSCDS Leeds Silver Jubilee / RSCDS 30 Popular Dances 2) Kate & Alice Dianna & Bill Members emjoying a break Kate & Alice 1/7 Link to you tube - 'More Bees a - Dancing below The dance is 'More Bees a - Dancing' by Roy Goldring. The music used was from track 4 Dancing on' Congratulations to Dr Anne McArthur life member of RSCDS Banffshire Branch Dr Anne McArthur , RSCDS Banffshire Branch member has been awarded the BEM in the King's New Year's Honours List. The Citation will read: Dr Anne McArthur Committee member, Royal Scottish Country Dance Society. For Services to Scottish Country Dancing and to the community in Portsoy. To listen to the interview by the Lord Liutenant, Andrew Simpson and Dr Anne McArthur on KCR Radio - click the link here Frank Thomson - Accordionist .The Banffshire Branch was delighted to see Frank Thomson receive the RSCDS Scroll of Honour at the Autumn Gathering in November, 2024. Frank has supported the Banffshire Branch over many years. He came to our rescue as the accompanist for the Dance Section of the Moray Music Festival in Elgin. He continued to be the accompanist for the next six festivals, the latter two run by the Banffshire Branch. When the Branch produced a dance and resource pack for children and young people to celebrate their 90th Anniversary, Frank gave of his time to record the music which is free to download from the website. He also composed some of the original tunes. Frank is our ‘go to’ person whenever we need a musician. We thank him for his support over the years and congratulate him on his award. Frank Thomson, Musician Frank's Scroll, Scottish Country Dance Link to Youtube found here Link to Strathspey Dance Server here Link to Dance Dictionary found here Wakefield Nursing Home, Portsoy Members of the Banffshire Branch danced at Wakefield Nursing Home on 26th February. The staff and residents gave them a warm welcome. Grace Henry, a former Branch dancer now resides there so it was a good opportunity for a catch up. Day School and Evening Dance with Angela Young - RSCDS Teacher & Scott Band Day School Evening Dancers Jim Stott Chair of Aberdeen Branch and Liz Bulloch - Vice chair of Banffshire Branch Day School 1/10

RSCDS Banffshire Branch events/SocialScottish Countrydancing Classes with a Difference Link to Summer Socials Link to Dance Diary

Dance Diary 2025 Link Link to Summer Socials Link to 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 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 In times of adverse weather, please check with organiser regarding the event going ahead Contacts found here

RSCDS Banffshire Branch 90 years of Scottish Country Dancing Link to Branch Events/Calendar Link to Dance Diary Link to Summer Socials The History of RSCDS Banffshire Branch Established 1929 to present day Originally formed as the Buckie and District Scottish Country Dance Society at a Public meeting in Buckie on Monday 9th September 1929, the title was changed to the Banffshire Branch at the first Annual General Meeting. Those initial classes in Buckie soon spread when our first Dance Teacher, Mr John Duncan, accompanied by Miss Nen Watson and Mrs Jean Mair, taught classes at Forglen, Marnoch and Cornhill. The tradition has continued for the past 90 plus years. We welcome new members of all ages and abilities RSCDS Banffshire encourages Scottish Country Dancing throughout the historic county of Banffshire, and its surrounding area of North East Scotland. The Branch has over 40 members, including RSCDS certificated teachers who teach locally, nationally and internationally.The Branch holds an annual dance on the second Friday in November. There are also day schools , dance festivals, special demonstrations and support for local schools with Scottish Country Dancing . In addition, many of the local class groups organise their own 'end of term' and/or annual dance and welcome other dancers to join in. 75th Anniversary CD & Dance book here Children Resources here Publications - 90th Anniversary CD & Dance book here Balmoral visit RSCDS Banffshire Branch Anne awarded British Empire Medal (BEM) Balmoral visit 1/9 Link

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

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.”

Find out what is going on in RSCDS Banffshire Branch Summer 2024 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. 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 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

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

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

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.

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