- Don't know the words to 'God Save the King'? Useful Lyrics
- The basics of Burns Night: 'Address to a Haggis'
- Why should I do it?
- What if I'm a beginner?
- What is Scottish Country Dancing, anyway?
- Is this the same as the Highland Fling?
- Who can do Scottish Country Dancing?
- Do I need a partner?
- Do I have to be Scottish?
- How much does it cost?
- What is the RSCDS?
- Why should I join the RSCDS?
- What do I wear? Do I have to wear a kilt?
- Do I need special shoes?
- Do I get to listen to bagpipes? (Alternatively, do I have to listen to bagpipes?)
- What happens at a typical NJ Branch weekly class?
- What other events are there?
- Who teaches the classes?
- Where else can I dance?
- Where can I find dance and class schedules and directions?
- Where can I see Scottish Country Dancers in action?
- Where can I get more information?
WHY SHOULD I DO IT?
It's great exercise; it's mentally challenging; it's done in the company of friendly, interesting people; and most of all, it's fun. Take a look at the pictures in our gallery; notice how everyone is smiling?
WHAT IF I'M A BEGINNER?
We were all beginners once, so you'll find us very helpful.
The Ho-Ho-Kus group runs classes for new dancers; check out our New Dancer Class page for information on what we're currently offering.
If you already learned the basics at school or in another group, feel free to just show up. All our local groups do talk throughs and then walk throughs before each dance, so you don't have to have anything memorized.
WHAT IS SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING, ANYWAY?
Scottish Country Dancing is a modern version of eighteenth century European social dancing. If you've ever seen a Virginia Reel, you'll have the basic idea.
Three or four couples stand in opposing lines; the first couple dances a pattern with the couples next to them; then they drop to the bottom of the line and the next couple begins the pattern again. Generally each couple repeats the pattern twice, so the dance is repeated 8 times, with every couple dancing each position twice.
There are many variations, of course. There are fast dances, jigs and reels, and slower strathspeys. You can see short videos of Scottish Country Dancers in action here.
IS THIS THE SAME AS THE HIGHLAND FLING?
No. The Highland Fling is danced by a single dancer for competition; Scottish Country Dance is social dancing. You do it for fun, not to compete, although many clubs have demonstration teams.
There are hundreds of different dances; some are very old, traditional dances, others have been devised more recently. The RSCDS publishes and distributes new and old dances in a standardized format. Some of our own local members have had their dances published by the RSCDS.
WHO CAN DO SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING?
The usual saying is 'from 8 to 80'; but our octogenarian dancers would probably take exception to that. And while we don't have many very young dancers, some members do bring their children along, and quite a few people had their first exposure to Scottish Country Dancing in their Scottish grade school.
DO I NEED A PARTNER?
No. Couples are certainly welcome, but it's customary to change partners for each dance, so coming alone is no problem. Everyone dances. This also means that beginners are usually paired with more experienced partners, which is very helpful.
DO I HAVE TO BE SCOTTISH?
No. You'll meet a lot of Scots here, though.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
The weekly classes and social dances are mostly around $10; larger dances and balls, which often include a meal and live music, run $45 and up. For exact figures, go to the Classes or the Events pages.
The annual fee to join the NJ Branch is $50. This includes branch membership, membership in the parent RSCDS organization, and the dancer's insurance policy. Membership dues support teacher training, dancer education, dance publications, and all the organizational activities that keep Scottish Country dancing a pleasure to participate in.
WHAT IS THE RSCDS?
When it seemed as if this style of dancing was dying out after the first World War, two Scottish ladies, Miss Milligan and Mrs. Stewart, started what is now the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society (RSCDS). Today the organization, based in Edinburgh, Scotland, is the parent for RSCDS affiliated groups all over the world.
WHY SHOULD I JOIN THE RSCDS?
The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society is responsible for the international standardization of Scottish Country Dancing, which means you can join a group anywhere in the world and recognize the dances and techniques.
They publish new dances and keeps the old ones from being forgotten; run teacher training and certification programs all over the world; and provide dancer education programs, including the Winter and Summer Schools in Scotland, which several of our members have attended. They also provide information and training for musicians and publish a great deal of dance music.
Benefits of membership include:
- Reduced entrance fees to classes and some other events
- Insurance while dancing at NJ Branch venues
- 10% discount on most recordings, publications and other items available through the RSCDS shop
- A twice-yearly members’ magazine, Scottish Country Dancer, packed with information and interesting articles delivered to your door
- Through the NJ branch, a voice in the running of the RSCDS through voting at its Annual General Meeting
Membership also offers:
- Access to the annual RSCDS Summer School, Winter School and Spring Fling
- Opportunities to advance dancing skills
- The chance to learn to teach Scottish Country Dancing through the Society’s examination and qualification system
- Availability of courses for musicians, to encourage the continuation of live music
- Availability of music recorded specifically for dancing to, as opposed to listening
- Promotion of the Scottish Country Dance tradition in schools in Scotland and among young people everywhere
- Provision of graded medal tests to encourage young dancers
- Learning and helping to preserve and foster original dances and steps
- Conserving the present and future existence of this form of dance
- Tapping into a worldwide family of Scottish country dancers
- Helping to preserve an important aspect of Scottish culture
The RSCDS Website itself is a valuable source of information on all facets of Scottish Country Dancing; it includes a YouTube channel; information, documents, and videos about dances, technique, dance music, and teacher certification. It also provides publicity aids for local affiliates. There is an on-line shop selling dance and music books and CDs and dance related items. And of course, they're on Facebook.
WHAT DO I WEAR? DO I HAVE TO WEAR A KILT?
At classes dancers are enouraged to wear a skirt or the kilt (they say it changes the way you move!) but you don't have to. Slacks are fine; you should be comfortable and able to move easily.
People dress up more for the big dances: the dance floors at the our annual Rerr Terr and other local balls are an impressive sight.
DO I NEED SPECIAL SHOES?
The classic Scottish dancing shoe is the ghillie, but ballet slippers or any soft, flexible shoe will do. You want to be able to get up on the balls of your feet. Don't stay away because you haven't got the right shoes, though - sneakers will do in a pinch.
DO I GET TO LISTEN TO BAGPIPES? (ALTERNATIVELY, DO I HAVE TO LISTEN TO BAGPIPES?
One of the pleasures of Scottish Country Dancing is the wonderful music; it's hard to resist jumping up to dance while you listen to a lively jig or reel. We often dance to live music; the basic dance band is usually a keyboard and a fiddle, and other instruments may join in. A piper plays for the Grand March at the beginning of larger dances, but isn't necessarily part of the normal dance band.
WHAT HAPPENS AT A TYPICAL NJ BRANCH WEEKLY CLASS?
The evening starts with a few minutes of warm up and perhaps a little practice on a particular step. Then 3 or 4 dances are taught and danced over the next hour. If there was a beginners class before the main class the first few dances are usually 'beginner friendly'. There's a break for refreshments, conversation, and announcements; in the last half hour the group finishes with a few more dances.
WHAT OTHER EVENTS ARE THERE?
Most groups have "end of series" parties after every 10 classes; there's also a holiday party in December and "Burns Night" in January near the date of Robert Burn's birth (January 25).
Parties are similar to the regular classes except that less time is spent teaching and there's more food. The Burns Night celebration includes a ceremonial reading of Robert Burn's "Address to the Haggis", followed by refreshments including haggis, neeps, and tatties.
The New Jersey Branch sponsors several events every year. The scenic Alpine Boat Basin Picnic and Dance is held outdoors in September, in a pavilion in the Palisades Interstate Park along the Hudson River. In the early spring is the Rerr Terr, a dinner and evening dance in Ho-Ho-Kus. Some years we sponsor the Maplewood Workshop, an all day event with a workshop in the morning and a tea dance in the afternoon.
Other local events include the Westchester Tea Dance in June, a Hogmanay (New Year's Eve) party in Elmsford, NY, and the New Haven Ball in Connecticut. There are various dance camps and summer schools available also.
Most of these events are listed on our Events page, with links to the registration forms and other information.
WHO TEACHES THE CLASSES?
Our teachers are local members, most of whom have been trained and certified by the RSCDS.
WHERE ELSE CAN I DANCE?
There are RSCDS branches in NY, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Delaware; our Links page will connect you to their websites for dates and schedules. The NY and NJ branches share many members and are always welcome at each other's classes and events.
In fact, there are RSCDS groups everywhere in the world. Check the RSCDS 'Branch and Group Finder' page to find a group wherever you happen to be. (Ufortunately the RSCDS Branch and Group search doesn't seem to work with US states; try googling 'Scottish Dance' and the state or city you're interested in to find a local group.)
WHERE CAN I FIND CLASS SCHEDULES AND DIRECTIONS?
Click the class page for our local group: Ho-Ho-Kus. For other nearby groups check our Links page.
WHERE CAN I SEE SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCERS IN ACTION?
A You Tube search for 'Scottish Country Dancing' will find many videos; or check out the pictures in our own Photo Gallery.
The Alpine Boat Basin Dance is held outside in September in the Palisades Interstate Park; feel free to stop by and watch us. The date and time will be found on our Events page.
WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?
For details about the NJ Branch, look on our Contact Us page for phone numbers to call. The Links page has websites of other local groups; the RSCDS website has a lot of general and historical information.