September 2006 Newsletter

Welcome back Everyone,

And to new members, we're so glad you have joined us!

The summer has passed much too quickly, but returning to dancing is a perk as we head into fall. I hope you have had relaxing holidays and enjoyable sunny (and rainy) days.

Some of our members kept active over the summer by attending Monday night dancing and participating in some demonstration performances. Thanks for all your contributions, and a special thank you to Kathy Simonsen for taking a leading role throughout the summer and for whipping us into shape! (Said with a smile.)

We have a fun evening of Ceilidh dancing scheduled for Friday, September 15 at 7:30 pm at Masonic Temple. It's just $5 at the door, with a cash bar provided. I do hope you will come out to this event, kick up your heels and dance up a storm. Thanks to Noreen MacLennan and Martin Mulligan for planning the evening, and to Corryvreckan who have volunteered to play. All are welcome, so grab friends and family and come out for a good time!

We are fortunate to have both Penny Gillies and Martin Mulligan teaching on Mondays this fall. Bill and Sue Scott remain in St. John's for another few months at least, and Bill has offered to continue teaching technique class on Thursdays (St. David's at 8 pm) while here. We appreciate the time, energy and dedication of all of our instructors and volunteers!

So - let the dancing begin!

Catherine Wright, Chairperson,
RSCDS St. John's Branch

---

Fees

The Fall session costs $60 for a weekly class, Monday or Thursday, and is payable by cheque or cash to our treasurer, Denise Sharpe, at the first opportunity. Cheques should be made out to "R.S.C.D.S. St. John's Branch." The Winter session will also cost $60.

There will also be drop-in fees of $5 a night for anyone wishing to add a Thursday or Monday night to their schedule, or who cannot make a full session. We want to encourage you to come out and dance whenever you can! For insurance purposes, we need to keep a list of attendees, and ask you to sign in or tick off your name at each class. Please make sure the secretary has your name and full contact details.

These fees include a contribution to cover the cost of full membership in the parent organization for our Management Committee members, which is required to maintain our status. Anyone who wishes to be a full member of the R.S.C.D.S. should inform Denise and pay an extra $25 for the year.

---

Farewell Ceilidh (with a silver lining)

We said goodbyes and thankyous at our Spring Ceilidh at Vanier School on May 13. Brad Wurtz has returned to Calgary, but with a promise to join us anytime he finds himself back in St. John's. Our teachers were given flowers, and other members thanked for their various contributions. But our saddest task was saying farewell to Bill and Sue Scott, longtime stalwart supporters, teachers and hosts of our branch. The programme included many of their favourite dances, and a new composition by Kathy Simonsen in their honour. We also gave them a number plate for their new house in Barrie, carved from Newfoundland slate. It was a great evening, beginning with a grand march piped by Sarah Newstead and Elizabeth Green, lively music as always from Corryvreckan, and wonderful edibles to snack on and chat over, including a cake wishing Bill and Sue, "Lang may your lum reek!" And the silver lining, for us at least? Read on!

Sue and Bill lead the Grand March, followed by Lucy Drown and Brad Wurtz

Bill and Sue with the number plate for their house in Barrie.

Cutting the cake.

---

Note from Sue and Bill Scott

We would like to thank everybody for the marvellous sendoff we received at the May Ceilidh. We were particularly impressed with the lovely "Adieu, Terre Neuve", a dance which we shall assuredly be teaching elsewhere whenever we get a chance. I was also delighted with the chance to dance the St. Anne's Twasome one more time.

After the wonderful farewell, we feel a bit like charlatans to have to admit that we are in fact still in St. John�s. Unfortunately the sale of our company has moved more slowly than we would have liked, and the period of overlap with the new owners may keep one or both of us here through the winter. We have moved out of 30 Monkstown Road, which, to our mixed horror and delight, sold in an hour after it was put on the market, leaving us very little time to find an office for the company and a residence for ourselves. We are now living at 748 Old Broad Cove Road in St. Philip's, as well as maintaining a house in Barrie, and have joined the ranks of commuters.

We get to Barrie once a month or so, and on our next visit, in late September, we shall be mounting the elegant number plaque which we received at the May Ceilidh. Photographs will be forthcoming.

Once again, thank you all for your kind words and for a wonderful, memorable evening. One often doesn't begin to realise how many good friends one has until the time comes to leave them.

---

Summer Dancing

Summer dancing has been popular this year, with a regular turnout of 10-14 people each Monday evening at St. David's Church on Elizabeth Ave. We were also joined by occasional visitors: David and Suzanne from Toronto, Hannah from Fredericton, former member Joan, and Maxine from Ottawa.

We didn't dance outside this year, but we made a valiant effort on our last evening, August 28. Frank and Claudia O'Connor invited us out to their place in Manuels, and we did a few dances on their grass before succumbing to the cold and retreating to the top floor of their house-in-progress across the street. There we danced on bare boards, watching the sun set over Conception Bay, while sipping wine and munching grapes. The evening ended with tea and snacks, and impromptu entertainment by Frank and Len. Thank you, Frank and Claudia, for your hospitality!

---

Dancing in the rain - Demonstration downs and ups!

We had several invitations to showcase Scottish Country dancing this summer, and volunteers included Kathy Simonsen, Catherine Wright, Elizabeth Green, Bridgette Hamilton, Donna Butler, Mary Bridson, Frank O'Connor, Bill Scott, Sue Scott and Lucy Drown.

Our first performance was at Summerfest in Pippy Park on July 30. We watched a perfect sunny day cloud over and the rain descend as we waited to go on, but we opened the show anyway, being careful not to slip on the duct tape holding the stage together! They kindly mopped off the stage in between dances.

Our next venture was supposed to be at noon on Regatta Day at Quidi Vidi dock, but as the rain poured down all morning, we had to cancel again this year. Only the rowers enjoyed that day! Maybe third time lucky next year.

On August 22 we were invited to help entertain the residents of Cambridge Estates Seniors' Home. This was a more informal affair, but Catherine and Len's singing and our dancing were much appreciated.

Our final presentation was for the Multicultural Women's Organization dinner and book launch on August 24 at St. David's Church on Elizabeth Avenue - our safe, familiar, rain-free location! Thanks to Catherine, Kathy and Bill for arranging venues, programme, music and practices, and the dancers for dancing.

---

"The Ceilidh Gang"

Bruce Shawyer and Noreen MacLennan report that Corryvreckan played for a local wedding in August at the Battery Hotel, with Noreen and Martin leading the dancing. Michelle Roche of St. John's married Alistair Cassells of Aberdeen, and the couple, having attended ceilidhs while living in Aberdeen, wanted one for their wedding.

There were several Scottish guests, as well as Newfoundland kilts in evidence, and the ceilidh continued with great enthusiasm for much longer than anticipated, leaving the hired disco man twiddling his thumbs! Bruce and Noreen hope they have caught the interest of some potential new dancers for us.

One guest approached Bruce and said, "I think that I recognise you. Do you play at the Burns Supper?" Before he could reply, the man looked down the room and spotted Noreen and Martin. "Yes, there's the Dancing Lady! And there's the Dancing Man!"

---

Dance Workshop November 3-5, 2006

Details remain to be worked out, and times and locations finalised, but the following is an outline of what will be involved in our workshop this November. Any questions can be directed to Kathy Simonsen. Mark the dates in your calendar, and come and join us!

Friday, Nov. 3 Evening Reception.
Meet the teacher, Catherine Shaw. (Catherine is from London, Ontario, where in the "real world" she works as a curator at the MacIntosh Gallery at the University of Western Ontario.)

Saturday, November 4

Sunday, November 5 - schedule to be determined

The cost will be $40 for the entire package (including the social), but it is also possible to attend selected parts at the following cost: Saturday morning + lunch - $20; Saturday afternoon + lunch - $10; Social only - $10; Sunday only - $10.

---

Branch Survey - Who are we?

Instructions: Please complete the questionnaire (.pdf file format, an Adobe Acrobat reader is required) by one of the following methods, before October 27, 2006.

1. Circle or tick all applicable answers, and return the sheet to the editor, Mary Bridson, at Monday or Thursday class, or to one of the executive in my absence.
2. Email answers to mbridson@mun.ca
3. Phone Mary at 895-2425.

List answers by number and applicable letter(s), eg. 1e, 2b, 3b, 4word of mouth, 5a, 6b, 7bd, 8c, 9ad, flamenco, 10bcehk, 11 great survey!
Anonymity is guaranteed - I would just like to publish a statistical profile of the group in the next newsletter.