past events: 2002-03 (autumn)
New Scotland Christmas Party | SUSCDF | Beginners' Dance | Newcastle Winter Dance | Freshers' Weekend
New Scotland Christmas Party 2002
by Alison
Nothing could be more appropriate (and fun) the week before Christmas than, of course, a Christmas party. This year we all invaded Stephen's flat to celebrate the festive season dressed in a variety of 'interesting' costumes. Joel was winnign the 'impractical costume' prize with his pracel costune, which though useful for balancing too-hot mince pies on slightly awkward for sitting down in - until Gary's turned up as a huge 'balloon stuffed' Christmas pudding. There were also elves and Santa Clause(s) and a couple of Christmas trees one with a fairy on top.
Lots of music, mince pies and mulled wine later when even the dragon mobile was looking as though it had had a hard evening of partying and after that stage, some time in the morning, when it seemed a good idea to play 'pass the ball of wool while holding onto the end' thus turning Stephen's flat into a giant 'cats cradle' had passed, we eventually took ourselves home.
All in all, we had a very enjoyable evening - a fantastic way to finish
off the first term and get into the Christmas spirit.
SUSCDF 2002
by Rachel
SUSCDF, the Scottish University Scottish Country Dance Festival, was hosted this year by Glasgow University in Bearsden Burgh Hall on 7th December.New Scotland took large a coach full of both experienced and inexperienced dancers across to Glasgow for the evening.
We had a great dance to Alastair Wood and his band with many fun dances and some truely evil ones - come on own up who put the 'Kelpie' on the programme?! There were also some wonderful demonstrations - St Andrews' dem looked increadibly complex with the biggest dem team of hte evening including Hoghaldjn dancers; and Glasgow showed that all five couple dances can be dances as a seven couple set - and they can be done backwards too! New Scotland put in another excellent performance - many thanks to Margo for the choreography - and Aberdeen also entertained us; however Linda gracefully declined to do an unrehearsed solo slot for Newcastle (!) so we continued on with the dancing...
A great evening was had by all and we all like the mini champagne bubble blowers!!
New Scotland Beginners' Dance 2002
by Carina
The first official event of the academic year 2002/2003 was the beginners' dance held on Saturday, the 13th of November. St Peters Church Hall Lutton Place, where we'd been having dance classes on Thursday night during the term, was decorated especially for this occasion.
For all 'beginners' and 'experts' this is not only the chance to dress up a little but also to practice dances at an official ball. But there is no need to be scared, because if you attend the classes in the weeks before the dance you will be properly prepared. (For everyone else and as a refresher all the dances were walked through at the Beginners' Dance 2002). Of course it is always good to have 'experienced' people in your set, as they'll always help you in case you're not sure how to do it. But mistakes are not unusual. Eventually the only thing that matters is to have great fun with people who like country dancing as much as you do!
An opportunity to recover a bit was the dinner. Lots of foods, from fruits to sweets, were brought for a huge buffet. The leftovers disappeared with loads of people in kilts and nice dresses to the after dance party, which you simply should not miss, because it makes a great evening complete.
Newcastle Winter Dance 2002
by Rachel
Newcastle Winter dance this year was held on 16th November in Blackfriars Hall, Newcastle. Several car loads of New Scotland headed south for the night including a few hardy beginners. Dancing to Alastair Wood, we had a really fun evening - even the beginners did (I think!) despsite the lack of calling of dances (I'm really sorry I did honestly forget that they don't call any of their dances......)!
Having danced our way through the 24 dances on the programme including a foursome reel (the Highland class at Freshers' Weekend proved to be useful for some!) and a random extra thrown in for good measure, we all found our way (by a variety of different and interesting routes - one way street what's that?!!) to Linda's house. Now the idea of staying over in Newcastle is that you don't have to drive back and get to bed at 3am. Well the first bit worked but the second didn't - was a good party! (if somewhat subdued by tiredness). Johann's birthday cake made an excellent midnight feast too!
Freshers' Weekend 2002
by Joel
Freshers Weekend is not only as an oppertunity for Freshers to get to know the rest of the New Scotland members, but is also a the perfect excuse for the rest of the New Scotland members to dance 'til they drop in a great part of Scotland!
This year, from 8th-10th November, a large coachful of us went to New Lanark, a small village with plenty of history. We took over the local youth hostel on the Friday evening, and shortly after headed up to the nearby church hall for the first of two ceilidhs. After a night's partying most of us managed to catch a few hours sleep before Saturday which brought a cool country class proceeded a little later by an introduction to Step dancing! OK so it was hard but great to try and we got a fantastic dem too.
The rest of Saturday daytime was spent trying to cram small containers with objects beginning with each letter of the alphabet, convincing Stephen that a particular spider's name began with the letter X, and fashioning historical attire out of newspaper! Excellent fun in all, and lovely scenery along the way.
Saturday night was the fancy dress Ceilidh with some truely amazing costumes and much fun was had by all. After another couple of hours sleep taking us through to Sunday, those of us who could still stand had a highland dancing lesson. We spent a while exploring the village and its incredible history before gathering for the dem team to do their stuff, for a mixed audience of New Scotland and members of the public, at the visitors centre. The coach picked up a crowd of very content if exhausted dancers and we headed home.