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, 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 51^st 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.