Reel 308 is now out for members and subscribers. With a wealth of articles on what’s happening in the Scottish dance community, details of London Branch dances and classes and local events listings this is a magazine you can’t afford to miss!
Become a member of London Branch or subscribe to The Reel to get 4 issues a year. See The Reel page for details.
Archive copies are available to read online.
Over 65 beginners and experienced dancers from the London area and beyond, including visitors from Toronto and Vienna, came together to enjoy dancing to the excellent music of Sandra Smith and Ian and Meryl Thomson at our Summer Wednesday dance on 29 May 2019. A walk through of the dances gave the less experienced dancers the confidence to get on the floor and enjoy themselves, ably assisted by the more experienced dancers. Tasty refreshments were provided by the Branch catering team of Margaret, Lena and George. Thank you to all who attended, to our superb
musicians, our catering team and to Judith Jones and Davinia Miln, our excellent MCs for the evening, who guided us seamlessly through the dances. A great evening enjoyed by all who attended.
Dance programme: Charlestown Chaser, The Loch Ness Monster, 12 Coates Crescent, Clutha, Joie de Vivre, Miss Gibson’s Strathspey, Napier’s Index, Pelorus Jack, The Dream Catcher, The Westminster Reel, Inchmickery, Scott Meikle, The Starry Eyed Lassie, The Reel of the Royal Scots
Photos courtesey Margaret Catchick
London Branch is 90 in 2020! We have some fun events planned throughout the year – do save the date and come and join us for our special anniversary year. More details will follow in the next few months. Click on the picture to the left to see what we have arranged.
Spring ha
s arrived and we are already looking onward to our annual Day School in October! We have a great lineup of teachers and musicians ready to help you improve your dancing technique. Put the date in your diary – application forms for dancers and musicians’ workshop will appear soon.
Dancers from RSCDS London Branch, The Highland Club, Little Ship Club, St. Coiumba’s Dancers and London Reels joined together on March 30 for the Combined Societies Dance which this year was hosted by RSCDS London Branch. Frank Reid provided us with superb music, Margaret Shaw and team provided tasty refreshments and Lizzie Conder, Peter Forrow, Peter Knight, Roy Southall and Simon Wales were our excellent MCs who guided us seamlessly through the dances. A great evening enjoyed by all who attended.
Dance Programme:
Hooper’s Jig, Festival Fling, Argyll Strathspey, Muirland Willie, Glastonbury Tor, Margaret Parker’s Strathspey, Best Set in the Hall, Miss Eleanor, Mairi’s Wedding, Miss Mary Douglas, John of Bon Accord, The New Scotland Strathspey, The Wild Geese, The Australian Ladies, Gang the Same Gate, Inchmickery, City of Belfast, The Reel of the Royal Scots
Wednesday 20th February 2019
To music from Sandra Smith and Christina Hood
The Winter Wednesday dance was a superb evening with beginners and experienced dancers coming together to dance to excellent music from Sandra Smith and Christina Hood. Margaret Shaw and her team provided us with tasty refreshments and Davinia Miln and Judith Jones guided us smoothly through the dances. A great evening enjoyed by the many who attended.
Dance programme: Good Hearted Glasgow, The Dashing White Sergeant, The Byron Strathspey, Follow Me Home, Round Reel of Eight, The Haar on Skye, The Montgomeries’ Rant, St Andrew’s Fair, Fisherman’s Reel, Holyrood Strathspey, EH3 7AF, Jessie’s Hornpipe, The Sailor, Jean Martin of Aberdeen, Catch the Wind
Photos courtesy Margaret Catchick
On Saturday 12th January 2019 dancers and their families enjoyed a traditional Burns Night ceilidh and a supper provided by Margaret Shaw and her catering team. Piper Ryan Ellsworth piped in the haggis which was addressed by Ian Rutherford (See photos).
Read more »
Despite torrential rain, over 90 dancers attended the Branch Christmas dance on Saturday 15 December 2018 and were treated to superb music from David Hall and his SCD Band as well as delicious refreshments provided by Margaret Shaw and her team. Rachel Wilton and Danielle Reinstein were our excellent MCs for the evening. It was a really wonderful start to the Christmas festivities.
Dance programme: The Hollin Buss, Catch the Wind, Gramachie, The Starry Eyed Lassie, The First of September, Margaret Parker’s Strathspey, Orpington Caledonians, Culla Bay, Cadgers in the Canongate, Follow Me Home, The Glasgow Highlanders, The College Hornpipe, Over the Water to Charlie (New Way), Cape Town Wedding, Glastonbury Tor, Fair Enough, Miss Eleanor, The Reel of the Royal Scots.
In the current Reel 306 we included our Christmas Quiz for readers to enjoy. To make it more difficult, we added an erroneous clue – number 6 should not be there.
The Quiz should read as follows: Read more »
Dancers representing London Branch took part in the annual Dance Around the World Festival at Cecil Sharp House, Camden , London on Sunday 28 October. This festival highlights the many forms of traditional dance which take place in the UK.
Our team danced a 20 minute demonstration in the Kennedy Hall and followed this with a one hour afternoon workshop led by Andrew Kellett which introduced participants to the fun of Scottish Country Dance.
Photos courtesy Margaret Catchick