100th anniversary of the Royal Scottish Dance Society

There was just one school entry in Scottish country dancing at the Arran Music Festival this year - so well done Brodick Primary School.

We are fortunate on Arran to have a group of enthusiastic dancers who meet on Friday afternoons in Brodick Hall.

Scottish country dancing is renowned for keeping us physically and mentally active and is a great way to make friendships lasting for years.

Rachel Phillips from Sannox has been dancing since 1939 when her parents started the Stockport branch in blackout Britain.

Rachel was privileged to attend the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society’s Centenary Ball, held at Edinburgh’s Assembly rooms, on Saturday March 25.

A total of 400 dancers spread across the vast ballroom and the smaller meeting room with two bands playing a programme of dances which honoured the people who devised or were connected with the dances.

The occasion had taken a great deal since before the court of Mary, Queen of Scots. The dances included circle round the room and progressive longwise sets of three, four and five couples. It is the music that defines the joy of Scottish Country dance – Strathspey, reel and jig tunes can interchange but all set the feet tapping.

Traditional fiddlers and pianists are now usually joined by accordion players in the numerous Scottish country dance bands that travel the length of our country as well as overseas to play for branch dances.

The centenary ball celebrated the dancing in the many branches and affiliated societies world-wide and many of the dancers had travelled from Australia, America and Europe to join the celebration.

Everyone is welcome to join the weekly dance on Arran, including primary and secondary school pupils. It is a great way to keep fit, a fun and sociable activity and an enjoyable and sociable way to learn our Scottish national dances.