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What Is Scottish Country Dancing? |
Scottish country dancing is a modern form of the "country dancing" popular in England and Scotland in the 18th century. It involves groups of six to ten people (most of the time) of mixed sex (most of the time) formed into a "set", dancing to the driving strains of reels, jigs and strathspeys played on the fiddle, accordion, flute, piano, drums, etc. (no bagpipes, usually!). Scottish country dancing is a very social form of dancing, not only because you get to dance with seven or so people at once instead of just with one partner (smiles and eye contact are almost mandatory, and if you want there is a lot of opportunity for relaxed "flirting") but also because there are workshops, balls and social dances being held in places all over the world. It is nice to be able to travel and join a SCD group for a night nearly everywhere you go. |
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When country dancing came to Scotland in the 18th century, it was at first popular among the townspeople in places like Edinburgh, but spread throughout Scotland, (at varying pace), and thrived there even when, during the 19th and early 20th century, more modern dances like the Waltz, One-step etc. became fashionable in other places. Country dancing in Scotland was also influenced by other Scottish dances such as Highland Reels and so acquired a particular "Scottish" flavour. In 1923, the Scottish Country Dance Society (SCDS, later "Royal" Scottish Country Dance Society or RSCDS) was founded in order to preserve traditional Scottish country dancing. |
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