HAPPINESS IS SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING

Scottish Country Dancing dates back to 1723 and many of the dances performed today are from the Eighteenth Century.

The Scottish Country Dance Society was formed in Glasgow in 1923 and in 1951 King George VI conferred the title "Royal" upon the Society. The aims of this new Society were to preserve the dances, seek their origins and ensure that their continuation was maintained in the correct form, also to publish them with their original music where possible.

Today, the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society who has its headquarters in Edinburgh, is worldwide and has a membership of nearly 30,000.

The Kilt is worn with pride by the male Scottish Dancers and it has a most interesting origin. In the 10th and 11th Centuries, the tartan cloak evolved. This long plaid, consisting of two pieces, each measuring about 5/2 yds x 30" and stitched together,
was laid on the ground and then the Highlandman laid himself on top of it and pleated it around him, securing it with a thong before standing up. This was the forerunner of the Kilt as we know it today, but it was the 18th Century before it bore any resemblance to the modern version, having been cut down to wear from the waist as it was considered an industrial hazard especially when worn near furnaces. The wool to be woven to make the tartan was taken from goat like sheep in Scotland. It was very coarse wool and was plucked rather than shorn, so originally all cloth was Black, Brown or White. Later, leaves, berries, bark and lichens were used as natural dyes to develop cloth patterns. Wearing the Kilt gave the Scots a deep feeling of kinsmanship with their homeland, so the Ban from the British Government after the Jacobite uprisings of 1715, 1719, and 1745 on the wearing of the Tartan was devastating. Punishment was to be transported overseas to His Majesty's plantations for seven years. It was to be 35 years before this ban was lifted. The Kilt became officially the National Costume of Scotland after a visit from King George IV in 1822 and to this day, the Royal Family wear it every time they visit Scotland.

I started to teach traditional Scottish Country Dancing in Broadstone 14 years ago and with the help of Mrs Margaret Robson of Upper Golf Links Road, have continued to hold three classes a week for Children. We are called "The Macaulay Dancers" as we meet in St. John's Church Hall, Macaulay Road. (A good Scottish name with its own clan and tartan). The children come straight from school on a Thursday and spend the first hour learning tricky steps and footwork, figures and formations and dancing simple dances. When they have reached a certain standard, they stay to a second class, for another hour, where they can improve their technique and knowledge of dances. From this class, pupils are selected to another class on Tuesday evenings and it is this class which provides our Display Teams.

These teams, over the years, have had many exciting times. Each year they enter a Scottish Dance Competition at the Slough Arts and Music Festival and in early May this year, we were triumphant yet again. The I lyrs & under won first place for the 12th year in succession, the l6yrs & under, first place for the 9th year, and our l6yrs & over team came second in their group. The treat of the day was a trip to Chessington World of Adventures - along day beginning in Broadstone at 6.l5am and returning happy and exhausted at 8.30pm, all the hard work of the previous weeks paying off!!

Another almost Annual event is a weekend in Cardiff, sleeping in a Scout Hall (minus the Scouts of course!) to take part in a Festival of Scottish Dance organised by Cardiff Royal Scottish Country Dance Society. Outdoor dancing is held in the beautiful surroundings of the Roman Amphitheatre at Carleon and this together with visits to local attractions ensure that this weekend is not to be missed.

Recently the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society celebrated a 75th Anniversary and Emma Sergeant was selected to dance for the Queen in a Private Audience in Edinburgh.

Our classes not only offer physical and mental exercise but also teach comradeship, team spirit and friendship to all. We would welcome any new members, (particularly some boys), aged from 5 1/2 yrs upwards, all ages catered for. We also run adult classes in Bournemouth on Friday evenings. Our new term begins on Thursday, 14th September - youngsters please come along to St. John's Church Hall, Macaulay Road after school, 3.30 - 4.30pm for beginners. Please phone Margaret Robson, Broadstone 698138 for more information.

Marilyn Watson, Teacher.

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