WELCOME
Classes for 2023-24 take place every Thursday from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm. Beginners are always welcome. No partners are needed.
First United Methodist Church of Troy
6363 Livernois, Troy, MI located here
Teachers: Rhett Heberling and Laurel Paterson
Park in the church parking lot. We dance in the gym on the first floor.
When class must be cancelled due to inclement weather or an unforeseeable event, members will be notified by email asap, sometimes late in the day. A cancellation notice will be posted on this website and on our Facebook page.
On Mondays The Tartan and Thistle Ann Arbor Scottish Country Dancers hold classes from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm in the sanctuary at Genesis of Ann Arbor, 2309 Packard Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104. For more information visit: Ann Arbor Scottish Country Dancing
COVID-19 Policy: Current protocols do not require COVID screening or proof of vaccination. Masks are optional and we do ask that you refrain from attending if you are feeling unwell. Take care, stay well and follow the guidelines from public health officials.
Class Notes
DancES Taught Each week are posted here
Written instructions and videos for all dances can be found on the Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary website located here.
Thursday, 5/9/2024
As we wind down the year, we practiced several dances familiar to our experienced dancers, yet still new for our improving students. They included Mairi’s Wedding (R8x40) 3C (4C set); The Wild Geese (J8x32) 3C (4C set); Catch the Wind (R8x32) 3C (4C set); and Anna Holden’s Strathspey (S8x32) 2C (4C set).
Thursday, 5/2/2024
This class was our last opportunity to practice dances for the Great Lakes Ball. We danced St. Andrews Fair (J8x32) 3C (4C set); TheSpirit of the Dance (S8x32) 3C (4C set); Sugar Candie (S8x32) 3C (4C set); Mrs. Stewart’s Jig (J8x32) 3C (4C set); Mairi’s Wedding (R8x40) 3C (4C set); and Tribute to the Borders (J8x32) 3C (4C set).
Thursday, 4/25/2024
This week we continued refining our skills and technique for the following dances: EH3 7AF (J8x32) 3C (4C set); Sugar Candie (S8x32) 3C (4C set); Mairi’s Wedding (R8x40) 3C (4C set); Village Reel (S8x32) 2C (4C set); Miss Milligan’s Strathspey (S8x32) 3C (4C set); and Maxwell’s Rant (R8x32) 3C (4C set).
Thursday, 4/18/2024
We held a surprise celebration tea for our fabulous instructor, Laurel, and then continued to review some of the dances for the upcoming Great Lakes Ball. We danced The Highland Rambler (R8x40) 3C (4C set); Maxwell’s Rant (Rx32) 3C (4Cset); The Spirit of the Dance (S8x32) 3C (4C set) and EH3 7AF (J8x32) 3C (4C set).
Thursday, 4/11/2024
We enjoyed a large class with several new participants this week and continued to learn and practice dances from the upcoming Great Lakes Ball program on May 4. Dances included Flowers of Edinburgh (R8x32) 3C (4C set), The Spirit of the Dance (S8x32) 3C (4C set), The Lass of Richmond Hill (R8x32) 3C (4C set), The Jubilee Jig (J8x32) 3C (4C set); Miss Milligan’s Strathspey (S8x32) 3C (4C set), and Mrs. Stewart’s Jig (J8x32) 3C (4C set). We ended the evening with one of our favorites: Balgeddie Reel (R5x32) 5C set.
Thursday, 4/4/2024
This week we focused on perfecting our steps to Sugar Candie (S8x32) 3C (4C set), A Trip to Bavaria (R4x32) 4C set, Mairi’s Wedding (R8x40) 3C (4C set), Ellie’s Jig (J8x32) 3C (4C set), and The Spirit of the Dance (S8x32) 3C (4C set). During class we were delighted to have a couple of Scotland enthusiasts drop by to learn more about Scottish Country Dancing and they joined in to dance The Kingston Jig (J4x32) 4C set and Gay Gordons (M16) Round the Room.
Thursday, 3/28/2024
A small but mighty group of dancers this week, we learned Sugar Candie (S8x32) 3C (4C set) and Ellie’s Jig (J8x32) 3C (4C set). We continued to practice dances learned previously including Flowers of Edinburgh (R8x32) 3C (4C set), Seann Truibhas Willichan (S8x32) 2C (4C set), and Mairi’s Wedding (R8x40) 3C (4C set).
Thursday, 3/21/2024
This week we focused on perfecting various figures and polishing several dances that we have learned this year. We began with Culla Bay (S4x32) and then danced The Roselath Cross (J8x32) 3C (4C set) followed by The Spirit of the Dance (S8x32) 3C (4C set). We closed out the evening with A Trip to Bavaria (R4x32) 4C set, Maxwell’s Rant (R8x32) 3C (4C set) and St. Andrews Fair (J8x32) 3C (4C set).
Thursday, 3/14/2024
Some challenging but enjoyable dances were added to our repertoire of jigs and strathspeys this week. We started class with The Roselath Cross (J8x32) 3C (4C set), followed by A Trip to Bavaria (R4x32) 4C set, Village Reel (S8x32) 2C (4C set), 12 Coates Crescent (S4x32) 4C set, Tribute to the Borders (J8x32) 3C (4C set), and concluded the evening with EH3 7AF (J8x32) 3C (4C set).
Thursday, 3/7/2024
This week we practiced many well-known dances including The Reel of the Royal Scots (R8x32) 3C (4C set), Anna Holden’s Strathspey (S8x32) 2C (4C set), and The Reel of the 51st Division (R8x32) 3C (4C set). We tried our hand at a fun ceilidh dance entitled “See You Again” and perfected our strathspey figures with 12 Coates Crescent (S4x32) 4C set. We rounded out the evening with A Trip to Bavaria (R4x32) 4C set, The Highland Rambler (R8x40) 3C (4C set), and City of Belfast (S3 x32) 3C set.
Thursday, 2/29/2024
We celebrated Leap Day with a fun class of familiar dances as well as newer dances we have mastered this winter. After a brief warmup of steps for jigs, reels, and strathspeys, we started with Anna Holden’s Strathspey (S8x32) 2C (4C set) followed by The Reel of the Royal Scots (R8x32) 3C (4C set). We enjoyed dancing Dumbarton Drums (R8x32) 3C (4C set), Kendall’s Hornpipe (J8x32) 2C (4C set), A Trip to Bavaria (R4x32) 4C set, and The Highland Rambler (R8x40) 3C (4C set).
Thursday, 2/22/2024
We continued to learn and refine several dances this week including Jimmy’s Fancy (S8x32) 3C (4C set), Dumbarton Drums (R8x32)3C (4C set), and Campbell’s Frolic (J8x32) 3C (4C set). We ended the evening with Culla Bay (S4x32) Square Set and a rousing rendition of Balgeddie Reel (R5x32) 5C set.
Thursday, 2/15/2024
This week we began class with one of the most popular Scottish country dances, Culla Bay (S4x32), which was the first time to dance a square set for our newer dancers. We then practiced some familiar and fun dances – Trip to Bavaria (R4x32) 4C set and EH3 7AF (J8x32) 3C (4C set). Dances new to our group this week included The Bonniest Lass In All The World (S8x40) 3C (4C set) and Campbell’s Frolic (J8x32) 3C (4C set). We closed out the night with a perennial favorite, The Reel of the Royal Scots (R8x32) 3C (4C set).
Thursday, 2/8/2024
This week we continued our mastery of well-known dances. We started the evening with Maxwell’s Rant (R8x32) 3C (4C set), followed by Bridge of Nairn (S8x32) 3C (4C set). We then practiced Flowers of Edinburgh (R8x32) 3C (4C set), EH3 7AF (J8x32) 3C (4C set), and Kendall’s Hornpipe (J8x32) 2C (4C set).
Thursday, 2/1/2024
With a larger group this week, we enjoyed a wonderful evening of mostly four couple dances! We began with The Highland Rambler (R8x40) 3C (4C set) followed by Maxwell’s Rant (R8x32) 3C (4C set), Culla Bay (S4x32) Square Set, Lads and Lassies of Livermore (R4x32) 4C Set, and St. Andrews Fair (J8x32) 3C (4C set). We ended with a refinement of dancing in a triangle formation with Wind on Loch Fyne (S3x32) 3C Triangular Set.
Thursday, 1/25/2024
Our small but mighty class warmed up with The City of Belfast (S3x32) 3C Set, and then enjoyed two new dances: Alice’s Request (J8x32) 2C (4C set) and The Glen (J8x32) 2C (4C set). We closed out the evening with an interesting dance for just three couples in a triangle formation: Wind on Loch Fyne (S3x32) 3C Triangular Set.
Thursday, 1/18/2024
Class was cancelled due to the weather.
Thursday, 1/4/2024
Our first class of the new year was a lively one! We reviewed and practiced several favorites: Anna Holden’s Strathspey (S8x32) 2C (4C set); EH3 7AF (J8x32) 3C (4C set); Maxwell’s Rant (R8x32) 3C (4C set); Bonnie Stronshiray (S8x32) 3C (4C set); Mairi’s Wedding (R8x40) 3C (4C set); and Chased Lovers (J8x32) 3C (4C set).
Thursday, 1/11/2024
Our class started with skill building for the Diamond Poussette. We then reviewed several well-known dances and learned a new one: Trip to Bavaria (R4x32) 4C; Highland Rambler (R8x40) 3C (4C set); The Spirit of the Dance (S8x32) 3C (4C set); EH3 7AF (J8x32) 3C (4C set); and Culla Bay (S4x32) Square Set.
Events
Check out Upcoming dances and RSCDS events listed Below
SAVE THE date! POTLUCK DINNER AND DANCE – JUNE 1, 2024
The RSCDS Windsor Branch is hosting a potluck dinner and dance from 5:30 pm – 9:00 pm at the Scottish Club on Saturday, June 1. Bring food to share and join in the dancing! The Scottish Club is located at 1340 Tecumseh Rd E in Windsor, Ontario. Download the program: Windsor Briefs Programme
A SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCE WEEKEND — JUNE 7-9, 2024
The RSCDS-Chicago, Madison, and Milwaukee Scottish Country Dance Groups is hosting the 13th annual Midwest Scottish Weekend at Wayland Academy in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. Located 46 miles northeast of Madison the workshop features classes and dance events in air-conditioned venues on a compact campus. Accommodations will include a new dorm and group restrooms. The teachers will be Arthur McNair and Jennifer Reiner. Music will be provided by champion fiddler Elke Baker, expert pianist Liz Donaldson, and versatile bassist and cellist Ralph Gordon. A complete schedule with times, locations, and map links may be found on the website: https://sites.google.com/site/midwestscottishweekend/home
RSCDS BOSTON-PINEWOODS SESSIONS – JULY 5-8 and JULY 8-13, 2024
Join us in 2024 in the woods of Plymouth for Scottish dancing beneath the tall pines. You’ll enjoy dance and music classes during the day and a dance party every night, plus music sessions, after-parties, auctions, ceilidhs, and more! This year’s theme is “Wonders”. Registration is now open, and dancers of all ages are welcome to attend. Teachers include Jeanne Moody and Jen Schoonover and two special teachers from Scotland. For details and registration information, visit: https://rscdsboston.org/pinewoods-scottish-sessions.html
BLUE RIDGE SCOTTISH DANCE SCHOOL – JULY 7-13, 2024
The Blue Ridge Scottish Dance School is an adventure in Scottish Country Dancing and takes place on the campus of Appalachian State University in the lovely Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. The teachers will be Rebecca Blackhall-Peters and Gary Coull. The musicians will be Elke Baker, Elissa Hock-Wimmer, and Terry Traub. Offerings include daily classes in skilled and social levels, afternoon bonus classes in topics of interest, evening dances, and the Blue Ridge Scottish Dance Gala to finish the week. For more details and registration information, visit: https://www.blueridgesds.org/registration
TAC SUMMER SCHOOL – JULY 28-AUGUST 4
TAC Summer School is back where it started, more than 50 years ago, at beautiful Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario — an easy jaunt to Niagara Falls, and the Shaw Festival at Niagara-on-the-Lake. Summer School is an annual event hosted by the Scottish Country Dance Teachers’ Association of Canada for Scottish Country Dancers around the world to come together, have fun, and improve their dancing. It is a weeklong event with classes in the morning with teachers from around the world, including Graham Donald, Spain; Barbara Johnston, Alberta; Jennifer Schoonover, USA; and Rachel Shankland, Scotland. The afternoons offer optional classes with everything from personal technique to yoga to a musician’s class for dancers. This summer the music director is Elke Baker. If you would like to learn more about Scottish Country Dancing and widening your social circle, Summer School is the place for you! For registration and more information: https://tac-rscds.org/