TWELFTH NIGHT SOCIAL was a very good evening of dancing to Corryvreckan and we thank them and Martin for putting the programme together. Thanks go to everyone who helped make the evening a success.
We were sorry Margaret Connors was not there to dance "Margaret's Reel" which was devised by Bruce Shawyer, acknowledging the large amount of time and effort Margaret gives in putting together the dance booklets and print-outs around the walls at socials. There are two tunes to go with the dance, one, "Margaret's Reel" and the other, "Harry's Fancy" (Harry being Margaret's husband). Both were composed by Tara Bryan. Printed copies of the music will be given to Margaret.
The DEMO. TEAM danced four dances at the Burns Supper on January 19th, which were very well received by a large audience. Corryvreckan played for the evening.
GLENBROOK LODGE - Feb. 5th, 7 p.m. As in the past, we've been asked to help the residents celebrate Burns night. We encourage all our dancers to come along (including our new dancers). Children are very welcome and sometimes join in the dancing. The haggis is piped in and Corryvreckan play for the evening. Please meet at Glenbrook Lodge on Torbay Rd. and bring along a small plate of goodies suitable for elderly people.
RSCDS MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE in Scotland is under review and at the AGM in Scotland on 3rd Nov. 2001 members voted for change. The General Purposes Committee is to begin work implementing this and if any of our members wish to make suggestions, these are encouraged. Details and copies of minutes etc. are on the notice board. If you remove them, please let Brenda know.
SUMMER SCHOOL, St. Andrews will take place 14 July - 11 August 2002. Details and application forms are on the notice board to be returned to Scotland by l March 2002.
DANCE PROGRAMMES. At the recent AGM of TAC there was a round table discussion on dance programmes, led by June Shore. Many good suggestions came out of this, for instance not starting a programme with a pas de basque, but with an easy jig in order to warm up gently. We have a copy on file and if any of our devisors of social programmes would like to read it, please ask Brenda.
The TARTAN BALL will be held at the Royal York Hotel, Toronto on Saturday, February 23. If you are in Toronto around this time, it is a very popular event. Details on the notice board.
ST. DAVID'S CHURCH. Our group has a close relationship with the Church, where we hold our Thurs. night technique class and demo. practices. We occasionally undertake jobs for them, the latest being to change all the ballasts and tubes of the light fixtures in the Church Hall and stage.
Phil Hanley, being the qualified electrician, led the group, obtaining all the equipment (for which the Church paid) and overseeing the job. The work took 1 1/2 Saturdays and is now completed very satisfactorily. Many thanks go to the following people for all their help. Phil Hanley, Brenda Burness, Ian Gall, Elizabeth Green, Michael Heald, Robert MacIsaac, Don McKay, Ingrid Pardoe, Bill Scott, Denise Sharp,and Dennis Sharp.
Steve Bruneau organized the scaffolding and a couple of Church members also helped. St. David's is very grateful to us, for without our "labour" it would have been an extremely costly project.
PAT'S PARTY PIECES. In a number of newsletters we've printed one of "Pat's Party Pieces" which are poems relating to Scottish country dancing. I (Brenda) purchased them to periodically include in the newsletters and out of curiosity asked Pat Batt about herself and the history of them. I received a very nice letter which follows:
"........For some years I did the odd verse at Ceilidhs when I went on dancing holidays. Then Derek Haynes, who publishes his dances for cancer charity, (I'm sure you know some of them - McDonald of the Isles, Black Mountain Reel etc.) suggested that I should do likewise. I had about 50 copies of Book I done and hoped to raise a few pounds (Pat is English) for the North London Hospice which was just being built - my husband died of cancer when he was 51. Well, things seemed to snowball from thereon and when I reached 2,500 pounds sterling last year, and most people seemed to have a copy, I decided to call it a day. I'm out of print now, and in some ways regret it as I still have the occasional request.
As for me - well, I'm 80 and still moving round the floor, rather than dancing. My spring departed some years ago! I started Scottish Country when I was 40 (I'd always done English Country, Old Tyme, American Square etc.) and was immediately hooked. Did my medals (even managed to wreck a set in front of Miss Milligan!) - never took the teacher's cert., though I do take a class once a fortnight, just to practice dances for our monthly dance. As for where I dance - mostly North London and Hertfordshire, but lots of dancing holidays in the English Lake District, Derbyshire, Devon, and I always take my shoes on ordinary holidays so that I can join in local classes in Scotland, Yorkshire - all over the place! Very friendly."
Pat Batt sounds an amazing person - and all this at 80! Another poem has been included in this newsletter.
CARING & SHARING. We are delighted that Robert and Penny are back dancing with us, Robert having been to China and Penny to Australia. Corryvreckan must be pleased, as we are, to have Stewart back playing with them.
Upcoming SCD Events
The Ardbrae Dancers of Ottawa: Ardbrae Ball Week-end, January 25-27 2002.
contact: Guy Quesnel (613) 725-3031
RSCDS Toronto Association: 39th Annual Tartan Ball, February 23, 2002.
contact: Ann Campbell (905) 459-5213
RSCDS Montreal Branch: 44th Montreal Weekend Workshop and Gala Dance, June 7-9, 2002.
contact: Sue Reid
Nasty Habits
by Patt Batt
I have some nasty habits -
I'll confess it loud and clear
For that might sound a warning bell
To other dancers here.
I've curtsied to my partner
Whilst chatting to a friend -
My partner vainly wondering how
He's managed to offend.
My hands too low in rights and lefts
Too high in hands across.
I sometimes have a mental blank
And cause complete chaos.
I'll own I've viewed my partner
With a vague, unfocussed eye
And given absent-minded hand
To drift - unseeing - by.
I've danced an eight bar reel in six,
A six bar reel in eight,
I've turned and cast too early
And I've turned and cast too late.
When slipping in a circle
I have not closed my feet,
My strathspey sometimes scrapes the floor,
My setting is not neat.
My toes have turned both in and up,
I have not paid attention,
And there were other lapses
That it's better not to mention.
Well, there was one occasion -
It must have been the whisky
When I danced Bratach Bana
And the others did The Frisky!
Yes, I've got nasty habits
And I only hope that you
When reading this confession
Don't think "I've got them, too!"