23 September 2025

Dave Hall gave us a lively start to the next season with an excellent selection of dances and different formations to tackle.

 

We began our warmup with the Boston Two-Step before paying serious attention to some Strathspey exercises, ahead of our first dance, Une Mazurka sous les etoiles. This included the tourbillon, familiar to most, and the less familiar Figure of Love (to be pronounced in a very particular way!).  Dave advised that the dance instructions had recently amended the Strathspey Poussette,  to a Poussette in waltz hold. We were not too keen on that idea and persisted with our much-loved standard poussette.

Moving in to reel time Red boat Sailing the Blue required faith that the pattern would work itself out as each dancer faced their partner only at the beginning and end of the dance. Our next dance, the jig  Stanford Swing from the Devil’s Quandary book, introduced some of us to La Barrette, although Dave assured us that it had been danced for decades. It took a bit of concentration but was definitely pleasing to dance once we grasped the requirements. The final dance of the evening The Faraway Isle, was devised by John Drewry as ‘as dance for the isle of Majorca’.

 

Many thanks to Dave for starting the season off in such style and to Adam for his usual fabulous accompaniment. Thanks also to Nadia for visiting us on her trip from New York – it was great to have your company, Nadia.

 

Next month we look forward to Sam Schad’s class on 21 October.

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21 October 2025

Sam Schad's classes can be relied upon to fulfil the 'fast paced“ part of the “Fast paced social dance” promise and this month was no exception. We were advised that the theme of the evening was to be ‘small furry animals’. Our warmup dance The Waratah Weaver did not seem immediately to fit this brief (Waratah being the floral symbol of New South Wales) but Sam explained that a very young dancer had likened the dance to squirrels dancing through trees. Who could resist?  The supporting dancers raised their arms to simulate trees and the squirrel impressions from first couple, Chris and Antonia, as they weaved in and out of the others were memorable!

 

We then moved through a variety of small animal related dances from The Squirrel (reels, rondel) to The White Rabbit (weasel reel), Foxhill Court (espagnole, dance to corners and set), The March Hare (set to corners and partner). The animals started to increase in size as we enjoyed Sunshine and Sweeties Jig (commemorating the Edinburgh Zoo pandas) and later, The Pink Panda (A John Drewry dance from the Cherry Blossom book). In between these two, The Rabbit Run returned to small animals with a Sam Schad devised dance. We abandoned animals for a while to dance a couple of Book 53 dances, Portincaple Oak and Pinewoods Reel, before finishing with A Toast to the Mousies and Keith Smith’s lovely, scampering tune.

 

As usual, the dances covered are listed below with links to the cribs and videos on the Scottish Country Dance Data Base. 

Many thanks to Sam for an invigorating and fun filled evening, and to Adam for the usual wonderful music. Next month Jeremy Hill will be our teacher (18 November) then, in a change to the previously advertised programme, Joan Desborough, accompanied by Neil Esslemont on small pipes, will deliver the 9 December class.  David Queen, who was to be our December teacher will instead join us in May 2026.

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The Waratah Weaver 4/4L · J32 See: A Second Book of Graded Scottish Country Dances 

The Squirrel 3/4L · J32 Boyd: Kilmarnock Album

The White Rabbit 3/4L · R32 Skelton: Reel Reflections

Foxhill Court 3/4L · S32 Drewry: The Canadian Book of Scottish Country Dances

The March Hare 3/3L · R32 Bentley:

Sunshine and Sweeties Jig 3/4L · J32 Short:  Bk 48

The Rabbit Run: Schad

Portincaple Oak 4S · M64 Thorn: Bk 53

The Pink Panda 3/4L · R32 Drewry:  The Cherry Blossom Book

Pinewoods Reel 3/4L · R32 Dickson : Bk 53

Toast to the Mousies 3/4L · R32 Gratiot: Bk53

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18 November 2025

Many thanks to Jeremy Hill for a challenging and invigorating class this week and to Adam Brady for his wonderful music.

 

Before giving details of dances covered, a quick reminder that our December class will be earlier in the month on 9 December and will be led by Joan Desborough, accompanied by Neil Esslemont on pipes. Other dates for your diaries include RSCDS London’s  Christmas dance on 13 December (music from Dave Hall and his SCD band) and its Burns Ceilidh and Supper on Saturday 10 January (music from Caledonian Reelers. NB the Burns event will be entrance by ticket only so do remember to buy yours online in advance).

 

Right, back to this week’s dancing….

 

Jeremy began by noting that he had been reviewing dances from RSCDS books 45 - 49, as part of his role with the RSCDS Management Services Committee. Book 47 was published in 2013 to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the society and several of the featured dances have become firm favourites, including Bill Clement MBE, Linnea’s Strathspey, Flight to Melbourne and Glastonbury Tor. Others however seemed to have slipped from the general repertoire and we revisited 2: the One o’Clock Canon and Memories of Mary Ann. 

 

We first worked our way through the challenges of The One o’Clock Canon (as the name suggests, it is indeed a canon) and concluded that, whilst enjoyable to dance and possibly very satisfying once mastered, it was perhaps no accident that its speed and comparative complexity had impacted on its popularity for regular (rather than dem) dance programmes. In contrast, Memories of Mary Ann was an enjoyable and straightforward strathspey which I, for one, would happily dance more frequently.  

 

We moved on to Preston Mill, a reel for 5 couples from Book 45, then, leaving the RSCDS books behind temporarily, enjoyed ‘The Faculty of Actuaries’  co-devised by Jeremy (with Ian Farr) to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Faculty of Actuaries in 2008. The movements of the dance portray the main emblems in the Faculty’s Arms, including an owl’s eyes and an hourglass.

Our final dance Rundumadum (or Round and Roundabout) featured in Book 49 and lived up to its name with a circulating knot in addition to the more regularly danced circles to the left.  Thanks again to Jeremy for constructing such an enjoyable evening - it was a lot of fun.  

 

Links to dance cribs and videos below

One O'Clock Canon 4/4L · R64 Brockbank: Bk 47

Memories of Mary Ann 3/3L · S32 Stephens: Bk 47

Preston Mill 5/5L · R32 Martin:  Bk 45

The Faculty of Actuaries 4/4L · J32 Farr & Hill

Round and Roundabout 3/3L · S32 Schmidt: Bk 49

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9 December 2025

Huge thanks to Joan Desborough and Neil Esslemont for an invigorating and most enjoyable Fast Paced Social Dance class this week. Joan led us through an excellent programme of ‘pipe’ dances and Neil provided terrific music, accompanied for a couple by Dave Hall who took a break from dancing so we could enjoy some keyboard music too alongside Neil’s pipes.

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NB: ref the Foursome, which Joan noted on Tuesday is better described as 32S 64R. The version we danced included the strathspey from Book 3.11 followed by a half Reel 0f Tulloch Bk 3.12.  

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That was the last Fast Paced Social Dance class of this year, but we’ll be back on 20th January when Pat Davoll will lead the class, and Adam Brady will play for us.

 

Before that, we have the RSCDS London Christmas dance – tomorrow 13 December at St Columba’s Pont Street. Dave Hall will be providing the music, with his Scottish country dance band, the Lower Hall at St Columba’s has been sumptuously decorated by the local school, and there will be some great refreshments too. Tickets available online or on the door.

 

Then, on 10 January we have the London branch Burns Ceilidh and Supper. Please do spread the word. For catering needs, we’re asking people to buy tickets in advance this year –booking link here.

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I’m glad I added a caveat in case of errors and omissions. I missed out the Belle of Bon Accord - mea culpa and apologies. Also the Foursome, which Joan noted on Tuesday is better described as 32S 64R. The version we danced included the strathspey from Book 3.11 followed by a half Reel 0f Tulloch Bk 3.12.  

Thanks again to everyone for such an enjoyable evening.

Joanne

 

The Duke of Atholl's Reel 2/4L · J32 Skillern: Bk 16

Reel of the 51st Division 3/4L · R32 Atkinson Bk 13 

The Braes of Mar 3/4L · S32 Drewry: Deeside Bk Pt 1

Bill Clement MBE 3/4L · J32 Wilkinson Bk 47

The Hollin Buss 2/4L · J32 Unknown: Bk 24

Foursome Reel/Reel of Tulloch 32S 64R Unknown Bk 3

The Belle of Bon Accord 4/4L . S32 Drewry: Deeside Bk Part 2

The Earl of Mansfield 4/4L · R48 Drewry: Lft Dances with Music (5)

Mrs Macpherson of Inveran 3/4L · R32 Drewry: Bon Accord Bk

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20 January 2026

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Many thanks to teacher Pat Davoll and class musician Adam Brady for a most enjoyable Fast Paced Social dance class last week.

 

We began with The Cuckoo Clock which kept us on our toes both metaphorically and literally as we moved from mirror reels to double figures of eight, then Muirland Willie figure leading straight into RH turn with partners and Set and Link for 3 twice (adjusting step length as appropriate throughout). Our next dance was a strathspey incorporating the fiendish (or so it seemed when we first tried it) Axum Reel. The Axum Reel originates from Orkney (Axum = eightsome). We eventually gained confidence in the movement, which was when Pat advised that we would now be using the movement in quick time for Lamp Black Lizzie. We enjoyed a great sense of satisfaction, plus some well-earned biscuits, when we succeeded in dancing it through correctly.

 

We returned to Set and Link (for 2 and for 3) in The Whiteadder Jig (pronounced ‘Whit’ adder - thanks to Adam for his guidance). S&L for 3 required a bit of extra thought as instead of repeating the movement immediately, each S&L for 3 was followed by turning the opposite dancer right hand.

The Road to Mallaig achieved a perfect (‘Pointless’ for those who enjoy the TV game show) score for Pat as not one of the dancers had ever come across the strathspey before. Looking at the SCDDB, it appeared just 6 times since January 2025 (a shame as it was fun to dance), compared with the next dance, Bill Clement MBE (Also fun to dance), which has already appeared on 24 lists for January 2026 alone. We appreciated both dances for their different merits and finished the evening with a medley, Farewell to the North, which moved from Jig to Strathspey to Reel.

 

The Cuckoo Clock R32 3/4L Barbour: Dance & Celeb.

The Axum Reel S32 4/4L RSCDS XVIII

Lamp Black Lizzie J40 4/4 Davoll: Oxford Connections

The Whiteadder Jig J32 3/4L Johnstone: Whiteadder

The Road To Mallaig S32 4/4L Frodsham: RSCDS XXXVI

Bill Clement MBE J32 3/4L Wilkinson: RSCDS XLVII

Farewell to the North M96 4/4L Barbour: Set & Cast Off 

 

Thanks again to Pat and Adam.  Next month we welcome Atsuko Clement who will travel from Edinburgh to deliver the February Fast paced Social dance class on 17 February. More details plus information re past classes here https://www.rscdslondon.org.uk/fast-paced-social-dance.

Best wishes

Joanne

 

PS: : there are 2 day schools coming up next month. Both present an excellent opportunity to experience different teaching styles and meet dancers from other parts of the country.

• RSCDS Cambridge has a day school on 28 February. More details and booking information here https://www.rscds-cambridge.org/cambridge-day-school/.  There is an intermediate  and an advanced class, plus an evening dance.

• RSCDS Oxfordshire also has its annual day school on 21 February – details here.