New Season Dance 2021 report and photos

Our first dance at St Columba’s, Pont Street on Saturday 18 September 2021 since the COVID situation brought a halt to live dancing was a great success. Many dancers came to support the Branch and enjoy the lively music of Dave Hall and his SCD Band – Dave Hall (accordion), Ali Forbes (keyboard) and Christina Hood (violin).

Dance programme: Pelorus Jack, Mrs MacLeod, Cape Town Wedding, Miss Allie Anderson, Cherrybank Gardens, Trip to Timber Ridge, The Bees of Maggieknockater, Asilomar Romantic, The Black Mountain Reel, Kendall’s Hornpipe, Mrs Milne of Kinneff, The Music Will Tell You, The New Rigged Ship, The Haar on Skye, John of Bon Accord, Jean Martin of Aberdeen, Best Set in the Hall, Da Rain Dancin’.

Photos and video courtesy Petar Petkovic

See other videos from the New Season Dance on our YouTube channel

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Return to dance!

Return to dance!

London Branch had a wonderful return to dance at the Open Air dancing in Kensington Gardens on 21 and 28 August. Massive thanks to James Fairbairn for his meticulous organisation which made the whole thing possible.

James also acted as MC on 28 August, enticing an ever growing number of passers-by to join members and friends of London Branch in dancing to the music of Dave Hall and Ali Forbes. The previous week, Frank Reid provided the music and Jim Cook acted as MC , inspiring dancers to brave the threatened rain and enjoy the dance.

It was good to see so many old faces, reunited after too long apart. We were delighted to welcome new dancers and we thank those who came for their willingness to join in. Please do come to other London Branch events, it was a pleasure to dance with you!

Thank you to James, Jim, Frank, Dave, Ali and all who helped make our first foray back to dance so pleasurable.

We now look forward to our New Season Dance on Saturday 18 September and to classes resuming on Wednesday 22 September at Park Walk, Richmond and Pont Street. Our COVID safety guidelines may be found here or on the right hand side of the website front page.

Please check with the website and eUpdate for further details. Read more »

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Spring from Home – Virtual Event

In place of the previously scheduled Combined Societies dance on 10 April 2021, we had an online ‘Spring from Home’ event, a joint venture from the London Highland Club, St Columba’s Dancers and London Branch.

The event began with a minutes’ silence in honour of the Duke of Edinburgh who had died the previous day. As for the London Branch Burns Night at Home, ‘Spring from Home’ featured music, dance, poetry, quizzes, competitions and plenty of online chat.

Items included some vintage dances as well as music from Ian and Meryl Thomson and from Craigellachie. Jim Cook provided a spring themed quiz and there was poetry from Valerie Strachan and Willie Lawrence, history from Rachel Wilton and Meryl Thomson, a song from Frances Bright, and, perhaps most important of all, dance recaps from Pat Davoll, Peter Forrow and Murrough Landon to make sure that we all had the chance to dance.

To see the videos which were part of the online event, go to the Spring from Home playlist on our YouTube channel
Read more »

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Burns Night At Home 2021

The Branch held a virtual Burns event from 5pm on Sunday 24 January 2021.  The evening featured vintage videos from ceilidhs past plus music, poetry and all the traditional Burns features, including the Address to a Haggis, the Immortal Memory, Toast to the Lassies and the Lassies’ Response.

Watch a recording of the event on the Branch’s YouTube channel

 

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90th Anniversary Tea Dance

This took place on Sunday March 1 2020 at London Scottish Regimental Headquarters, 95 Horseferry Road, London SW1P 2DX

An Afternoon Tea Dance with entertainment items. Music provided by Ian Robertson and his Scottish Dance Band.

Dances: The Machine without Horses, City of Belfast, General Stuart’s Reel, Ladies’ Fancy, The Lea Rig, None so Pretty, A London Celebration, Circle Waltz, The Duke of Atholl’s Reel, The Dream Catcher, Flowers of Edinburgh, Hamilton House, Monymusk, The Reel of the 51st Division.
Over 130 dancers and invited guests enjoyed a fun afternoon of dancing and socialising with a splendid tea of sandwiches and cakes. There were several entertainment items including a recitation, highland dance displays, musical items and singing.
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Winter Wednesday Dance 2020

Wednesday 19th February 2020

A dance with some easier dances for beginners and intermediate dancers to music from Sandra Smith and Barbara Manning

Dance programme:

The Waratah Weaver, Nice to See You, Lady Lucy Ramsay, Fair Enough, The Sailor, 12 Coates Crescent, Hamilton House, Kendall’s Hornpipe, The Piper and the Penguin, The Falkirk Lass, Napier’s Index, Catch the Wind, Butterscotch and Honey, The Reel of the 51st Division
Extras: Postie’s Jig, The Laird of Milton’s Daughter, Flowers of Edinburgh, Tap the Barrel

Photos  courtesy  Peter  Kendrick

 

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Burns Ceilidh Dance 2020 report and photos

126 dancers enjoyed the Burns’ Ceilidh Dance at St Columba’s Church on Saturday 11th January. The assembly danced a popular dance programme with lively music being provided by the “Caledonian Reelers”. The traditional piping in of the haggis was followed by a spirited rendition of Burns’ “Ode To A Haggis”. Then the dancers were treated to a piping hot meal of haggis, neeps and tatties. The dancing resumed and the evening finally ended with “Auld Lang Syne”.

Photos courtesy Stephen Webb

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Christmas Dance 2020

Christmas Dance 2011Saturday 19th December 2020

DANCE CANCELLED… however

We had a virtual Christmas party via Zoom where music and dance items were interspersed with quizzes and games.

We encourage you to wear a Christmas party hat and attire and join in the fun.

For more information about what went on, see our 24 December eUpdate.

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Christmas Dance 2019 report and photos

Christmas Dance 2011Our Christmas dance took place on Saturday 14th December 2019. 

Dancers enjoyed a festive evening dancing to music from Nicol McLaren and The Glencraig Band. 

Dance programme: Joie de Vivre, General Stuart’s Reel, Lord Elgin’s Reel, Farewell to Balfour Road, Orpington Caledonians, The Minister on the Loch, Miss Mary Douglas,  Margaret Parker’s Strathspey, Glastonbury Tor, The Starry Eyed Lassie, Scott Meikle, Miss Gibson’s Strathspey, Ladies’ Fancy, Flight to Melbourne, Sugar Candie, Jennifer’s Jig, City of Belfast, The Deil amang the Tailors

Photos courtesy Margaret Catchick, Simon Wales and Petar Petkovic

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