(Updated 5/4/2011)
The 2011 Schedule - scroll down
Scottish country dancing is ballroom dancing, not folk dancing. Unlike traditional American ballroom dancing, however, Scottish country dances are done in groups or “sets” of four couples positioned in parallel lines, partners facing each other. Each dance, be it a jig, strathspey or reel, is made up of different “figures,” such as down the middle and back. There are hundreds of dances made up of dozens of figures, some routine, some entirely unique to that particular dance. Simple dances might be made up of four figures; complex dances may have as many as sixteen. Country dances need to be learned at weekly classes where dances are taught for the monthly parties and various formal balls held throughout the year. If your group is interested in performing at the Woodland Games, contact Lauren Davis-Todd at ldavis-todd@yahoo.com no later than April 1, 2011.
Royal Scottish Country Dance Society
Formed in 1923 to "practice and preserve" Scottish country dancing, the Society (the “RSCDS”) collected the old dances and music, standardized the forms of technique, and instituted a summer school to "form a definite centre of knowledge." In 1951, to acknowledge its contribution to the British cultural heritage, King George VI bestowed the title of Royal on the Society.
Sacramento Branch of RSCDS
The Sacramento Branch of the RSCDS offers classes of all levels. For information about classes for children call Lynne Lockwood at (916) 481-2073. For information about adult classes call Peggy Hamilton at (209) 956-6676. Other branches are located throughout the world, including several locations and classes in the Bay Area.
Cape Breton Step Dancing
In the early 1700’s, Gaelic-speaking settlers from Scotland’s Western Isles and Highlands started arriving in Cape Breton, the island portion of Canada’s Nova Scotia. They cherished their traditions and social life, passing them down from generation to generation. The form of hard shoe dancing the settlers brought with them, which flourished and evolved in Cape Breton but disappeared in Scotland, is known now as Cape Breton Step Dancing.
For more information contact Lauren Davis-Todd at ldavis-todd@yahoo.com.
COUNTRY DANCE VENUE SCHEDULES 2011
SATURDAY SCHEDULE
9:30 Stepping Out with the Caper Kids Cape Breton Step Dancing
10:00 RSCDS Sacramento Scottish Country Dancing*
10:40 Siamsa Celtic Dancing
11:20 Ar Doigh Scottish Country Dancing*
Noon Noonday Ceremonies in Center of Fairgrounds
1:00 RSCDS Lafayette Youth Scottish Country Dancing
1:30 Stepping Out with the Caper Kids Cape Breton Step Dancing
2:00 Siamsa Celtic Dancing
2:30 Ar Doigh Scottish Country Dancing*
3:00 RSCDS Lafayette Youth Scottish Country Dancing
3:30 RSCDS Sacramento Scottish Country Dancing*
4:00 Ceilidh Dancing Dancing with a partner*
SUNDAY SCHEDULE
10:20 RSCDS Sacramento Scottish Country Dancing*
10:50 Stepping Out with the Caper Kids Cape Breton Step Dancing
11:20 Siamsa Celtic Dancing
Noon Noonday Ceremonies in Center of Fairgrounds
1:00 RSCDS Sacramento Scottish Country Dancing*
1:40 New World Scottish Dancers Scottish Country and Step Dancing
2:10 Siamsa Celtic Dancing
2:50 Scottish Dancing Demonstration of various types of Scottish Dancing
3:30 Ceilidh Dancing Dancing with a partner*
* Audience participation
The 135th Anniversary Sacramento Valley Scottish Games and Festival, May 7 and 8, 2011, will present Scottish Fiddling and Harping both days.
We invite you to enjoy our Scottish Fiddle Jam sessions. Fiddlers from across Northern California are here to celebrate the traditional fiddle music of Scotland. Each day they will perform five types of music:
1. Scottish folk tunes with author unknown—these are very old traditional tunes.
2. Traditional music by some of Scotland’s greatest composers (e.g. James Scott Skinner, William Marshall, Simon Fraser, Neil and Nathaniel Gow).
3. Modern compositions written in traditional Scottish style as part of an ever-changing and continuing body of work.
4. Fiddle music from the Shetland Islands.
5. Fiddle music from Cape Breton.
Scottish Tune workshop 4-5 PM.
Harpers Hall Ensemble 2011
Harpers Hall makes its home in the South San Francisco Bay Area and Central California Coast. Their purpose is to promote an appreciation of the folk harp, to cultivate its living musical tradition, and to preserve the fun and magic of the harp for members and for the general public. To that end, they hold numerous events throughout the year — from harp jams to house concerts, festival performances to yearly weekend retreats. Journey through Harpers Hall to discover an enchanting world of harpers and learn their songs and their stories.
For information on participating in 2011 or Scottish fiddling in general, contact Janet Kurnick: jkurnick@pacbell.net
These are open sessions and other musicians are invited to participate
Saturday |
Sunday |
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10-11 |
Fiddling – session led by John Taylor | Harping |
11-12 |
Harping | Fiddling |
12-1 |
Lunch | Lunch |
1-2 |
Fiddling – Session led by John Taylor | Harping |
2-3 |
Harping | Fiddling |
3-4 |
Fiddling – Session led by John Taylor | Harping |
4-4:30 |
Harp solos (most likely) | Fiddle Tune workshop |
The following short lectures and demonstrations will take place in Area 10.
Saturday and Sunday
10:00 a.m. Introduction to Scottish Gaelic Language, Marye Wanlass
11:00 a.m. History of Tartans,
Donald R. MacRae, Ph.D., FSA Scot,
Scottish Heritage Institute
1:00 p.m. Tracing Your Scottish Ancestors, Lauren Boyd McLachlan
2:00 p.m. Scottish Clans and Families,
Donald R. MacRae, Ph.D., FSA Scot,
Scottish Heritage Institute
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