Scottish Country Dancing - You Can Do It!

If you are interested in Scotland, you probablyTIP #1: BUY THE VIDEO!
already know the history of Scottish Country DancingWhich video...and what is "progression"? Reel Scottish
(SCD)...and you may have read about the types ofDancing
dances, steps, music, and figures. Now, learn how toThis is not my video, but it is one that I have
dance!purchased first in VHS and then in DVD format. I
Try my easy tips!purchased it from a company in the UK, but I have
First, let me give a little context to my suggestions.seen it on Amazon as well. It is fabulous! It shows
Three years ago, I enrolled in a local weekly class tothe steps and figures as well as dances at angles
learn Scottish Country Dancing. I had never tried SCDwhere you can easily see the patterns. The video
before, I had never seen SCD...in fact, I had neverrepeats the dance several times so you can see the
heard of SCD. I found the class quite by accident,progression.
but because I had recently developed an interest inWhat is progression? Dances are usually written for
all things Scottish, I had to give it a try. I am still2, 3, 4 or sometimes 5 couples which means it takes
taking classes, but also participating in balls, demos,that many couples to complete the dance. You may
and performances.have 10 couples in the set, but if it's a 2-couple
Our instructor is wonderful! Classes like ours, whichdance, only two couples will begin dancing...the first
are affiliated with the Royal Scottish Country Dancecouple and the second couple.
Society (RSCDS) are required to have teachers whoSongs are identified by the number of bars and the
have been certified in a demanding process ofdance type. The Minister on the Loch is a 32-bar
training and assessment. The certification processStrathspey (a Strathspey is a type of dance tune in
assures that instructors are accomplished dancers4/4 time). Other types of Scottish dances are jig,
and thoroughly grounded in style, technique, andreel, and hornpipe. After 32 bars, the first couple will
teaching skills consistent with the methods approvedbe in second position and will begin the dance again
by the RSCDS in Edinburgh, Scotland. The Royaland progress down the line of couples.
Scottish Country Dance Society is a registeredTIP #2: A WORD ABOUT OTHER VIDEOS...the good,
Scottish charity dedicated to promoting Scottishthe bad and the ugly
Country Dance. It has a world-wide network ofThree years ago I could only find about a dozen
Branches and currently has 360 Affiliated Groups.videos of Scottish Country Dancing on the web -
Local groups, as well, are dedicated to promotingmostly on YouTube. Now, I am finding many more
Scottish Country Dance. We want to make it morewhich is encouraging.
visible and attract young people to learn the dancesBut these usually fall in to 3 categories:
and carry on the traditions. So, we often perform for(1) they feature very professional demo teams (that
free or a nominal charge at festivals, dinners, nursingmake you think you'll never be able to dance that
home....whatever is available to us.well!);
I know the best way to get started!(2) they are from beginner children's classes (which
Let me explain why... The first time you see Scottishgive little help for leaning technique and phrasing), or
dancing it looks very difficult, but there are many(3) they are videos taken at balls with hundreds of
simple dances and that's where you'll start. When Ipeople packed into a hall (and you can barely tell
began, most of the people in my class had beenwhere one set ends and the next one begins
dancing for years...some for 30 years...so if was a littlebecause the sets are so crowded, or there's a bad
intimidating.camera angle and it's hard to see the figures)
Classes in some cities post the dances they will beBut, you can look for those that are made with
teaching in advance (so you could prepare), but ourintermediate or experienced dancers and these are
instructor teaches us to listen to the verbal directionsvery helpful when you are trying to learn a dance.
and wants us to be able to pick up the danceYou still have to practice your steps and technique
because we know the figures and understand how itwith your teacher, but the videos help you learn the
all connects. Now, I can usually do that...but backpatterns.
then...no way!One other issue is that often the video doesn't give
But, even if you know what dances will be taught,the name of the name. Some people do have titles in
someone new to Scottish dancing will have troublethe video or the name of the dance in the
interpreting the directions. Below is a typical "crib" ordescription, but many more do not. I have emailed
directions for the Scottish Strathspey "The Ministerpeople who posted videos to ask the name and
on the Loch":sometimes get a response; or I have shown the
1-8 1C+2C Poussettevideo to a more experience dancer and they can
9-16 1C dance down 2 places, turn BH; dance up 2sometimes identify the dance. But, remember, there
places, turn BH and face outare around 4000 dances (the dances we have today
17-24 1C+3C DblFig8 round 2C, 1C casting, 3Cdate back as far as the 1700s) so if you are looking
crossing up to begin, 1C finish facing out forfor a dance, the best way is just to but the name in
25-32 1W+2W & 1M+2M turn 1 (easy hand);a search engine like Google with quotation marks
1C+3C repeat (easy hand)around the title.
And, here are the directions for the Poussette figure:I now have about 30 or 40 that I have identified in
Strathspey Poussette (Diamond Poussette)my collection. You can save these videos to your
StrathspeyYouTube "channel," or mark them as favorites. When
2 couplesyou attend a dance, you will be given a "ball program"
1 1M and 2L step in slightly, with L foot, while 1L andin advance which gives the names and "crib notes"
2M step in to take 2H with partner, all forming afor the dances. Check that list of dances against the
diagonal line between 1M and 2L positions, each manones you have saved in youtube or other video sites
above his partner.and you should find a few that you need.
2 1C step diagonally down and towards men's sideTIP # 3: MAKE YOUR OWN VIDEOS....its easy -- I
while 2C step diagonally up and towards ladies' side,promise!
both couples moving at right angles to the originalI have found the best method for learning the
diagonal but turning 1/4 clockwise on the hop.dances. I video the dance myself.
3-4 1C step diagonally down and towards ladies' sideI started this just trying to prepare for a ball or
while 2C step diagonally up and towards men's side,performance, but it is so helpful I use if often. Just
turning 3/4 clockwise to form new diagonal lineget a Flip Video camera for about $150.00, set it up
between 1M and 2L positions, 2C above 1C, eachon a little tripod and that's it. Flip Video cameras use
man above his partner.AA batteries and have a built-in USB connector, so
5-7 Repeat 2-4 from new positions.you never have to look for a charger or a computer
8 Fall back to side lines.cable.
Note: The half strathspey poussette starts with thePlus, when you plug the camera into your computer,
couples having already moved into the diagonal line atyou can save the video, send it in an email, or post it
the end of the previous phrase. From there theyto YouTube (for private or public viewings). The
dance 5-8 as above.software in the camera (which automatically loads)
These directions are from the "dance database" ondoes all the configurations for you.
the Strathspey Server website:So now I have a great collection of my own, with
So, is it not easy for novice dancers to take thosetitles for file names. Sometimes I keep the
directions and make sense of them. It helps to knowinstruction, but usually I just keep video of the
that C means couple, M means man, L means lady,dances themselves. Give Scottish Country Dancing a
etc. The numbers on the left refer to the bars oftry! Not only will you love the dancing, you will love
music when the figures occur.the MUSIC!