past events: 2003-04 (autumn)
Week 10 events | SUSCDF | Beginners' Dance | Newcastle Winter Dance | Dunedin Autumn Dance & new Dunedin committee | MTV dem | Freshers' Weekend
Week 10 events
by Rachel
Photos from ice sakting and New Scotland Christmas party
Traditionally there are no New Scotland classes in week 10 of term but there were plenty other New Scotland-organised events on offer! On the Sunday, after SUSCDF, 30 or so New Scotland and Dunedin members attended the Edinburgh University Carol Concert in MacEwan Hall. This is now a traditional New Scotland outing and is followed by mince pies and mulled wine in the Chaplaincy (and the mince pies are gorgeous - they were from Gregs, by the way, if anyone is wanting to get hold of any!)
The next event of the week 10 was the New Scotland Christmas Ceilidh on Wednesday 10th December. This proved to be a very busy ceilidh. Excellent music was provided by Andy Kain and his band and equally excellent calling by Micahael, who skillfully succeeded in finding dances which could be done in a crowded hall without killing anyone (but who we're sure broke the reindeer antlers specially so he didn't have to wear them)! And after ceilidhing all night what should you do the next evening? Go ice skating of course! Yes, yet another traditional New Scotland Christmas activity is a trip to the ice rink set up in Princes Street gardens. This was very popular this year and there were only a few minor mishaps with people finding themselves horizontal rather than vertical. After skating we headed to the German market for food and gluevine and to have a go on the big wheel. This was VERY cold, so we all headed off to the Standing Order afterwards to defrost.
The final event of week 10 was the New Scotland Christmas Party. This was held on Friday 12th and was kindly hosted by Joel. The theme this year was 'Stars' and the party took a distinctly musical turn when David lead off the singing on his guitar. 'First prize', however, has to go to Friederike for her amazing star-covered wrapping paper Christmas dress and also her equally amazing (and very tasty!) gingerbread replica of Vienna cathedral. Happy Christmas!
SUSCDF 2003
by Alison
This year SUSCDF (the Scottish Universities Scottish Country Dance Festival) was hosted in Edinburgh by New Scotland on 6th December 2003. This meant having to organise two dances in two weeks but no one ever said we were sane!! The dance was held in James Gillespies High School and the hall was liberally decorated with holly to get everyone into a Christmas mood (and stop them leaning against the walls?!).
A grand March lead into Jim Gardner's energetic programme with welcome breaks for the displays. This year four universities put on displays: New Scotland, as the hosts, lead off followed by Glasgow (once they found the hall - they were glad we were running late!). Both these teams put on complicated, traditional style displays. The displays in the second half, after the large buffet supper, were somewhat less traditional.... Aberdeen (and friends!) took the Christmas theme to heart with appropriate reindeer and santa hat trimmings and are strong contenders for the shortest dem ever performed. St Andrew's performed a masterpiece of Highland-inspired choreography to Madonna which left many in the audience scrapping jaws off the floor afterwards.
All in all and impressive and varied selection of displays, and with excellent music by Sandy Nixon the night was deemed a success (hurrah!). The after-dance party a Neil and Rachel's also went well if the time it went on to is any judge - 6am! And why on earth did a limbo competition seem such a good idea?!
New Scotland Beginners Dance 2003
by Nancy
New Scotland's Beginner's Dance was held on 22 November in St. Peter's Church hall where the Ceilidh and Beginner's Country Dance classes are held every week. The hall was hung about with ivy and decorated with flowers, giving a definitive "country" feel to the dance.
The dancing was fun and energetic, with each dance being called beforehand and some of the more difficult ones walked, although all dances were beginner's level. There were mishaps and misdirection (the experienced dancers helped keep this to a minimum), but everyone laughed and kept dancing to the excellent music of David Anderson and his band.
As a break from dancing, a buffet was laid out with an incredible array of finger foods, from pizza to biscuits to chocolate. All of it was delicious and provided the extra energy to keep dancing until midnight and the end of the dance.
Afterward, some dancers went to bed, while many went to the after-dance party, hosted by Alison, where they relaxed to music, finished off the buffet leftovers, and talked until the wee hours of the morning. It was a great night for all involved.
Newcastle Winter dance 2003
by Rachel
Photos from
the dance
Photos from
the Sunday walk
On 15th November a record number of 19(!) New Scotland members headed south in four carloads to Newcastle for the Newcastle University Winter Dance. As ususal the journey was well worth it, the band (Alistair Wood) was on great form, some of our friends from Cambridge had made the journey north, and the programme had several Newcastle 'usuals' which have become great favourites with New Scotland - the Foursome Reel and Small Gym Romp spring to mind particularly. Several New Scotland beginners braved their first dance and (claim!) they enjoyed it, and it was certainly an energetic and fun way to kick off the University dance season.
After the dance we all headed to Kate and Kirsty's for the after-dance party and then to our various accomodations. The next day started early for those who got up to watch the Rugby World Cup semi final - some of us didn't... Then as two cars headed home to Edinburgh the other two stopped off to make the most of a beautiful day with a walk in the Cheviots. We found a VERY gloomy wood (see photos) and lots of sunshine and views including north into Scotland and the Eildon Hills. A very pleasant weekend jaunt in all.
Dunedin Autumn Dance 2003 & new Dunedin committee
by Rachel
This year Dunedin's Autumn dance was held on Saturday 8th November in the ususal venue of Cluny Church Centre with fantastic music by Sandy Legget and his band. As usual many New Scotland made it along and had a great evening of very energetic dancing.
We also found out who the new Dunedin committee were (they had just been elected that afternoon in Dunedin's Bi-annual General meeting) and there are many who are very familiar to New Scotland! In fact half the new Dunedin committee was on this years New Scotland Freshers weekend, including: Christine (Dunedin Chairman), Neil (Vice-Chairman), Katy (Secretary) and Linda (Ordinary). We wish all of Dunedin's new committee well, and it's looking good for further close relations between our two societies over the next couple of years!
MTV dem
by Joel
The MTV Awards were held in Eidnburgh on 6th Novembers 2003. On Monday 3rd November 2003 a team of New Scotland demmers was filmed dancing with MTV presenter Alex Zane as part of a feature on 'Alex Zane becoming a Scot' which was shown as part of the 'Build-up to the MTV Awards' show.
The timing of the filming sesssion could have been better as we were all very dead after Freshers Weekend and no hotels or other posh venues could be found to film in; so we ended up in the Highland Room in the Pleasance - well I guess it's realistic! The MTV film crew consisted of two hand held cameras and our job was to dance Marie's Wedding while Rachel was interviewed by Alex Zane. We then persuaded Alex to try some dancing (he wasn't very keen for some reason - spins and claps and kicks and screams seemed to have scared him somewhat!). Very quickly it was all over - just time for a final group photo.
And the grand result? Well we starred on MTV for a whole 25 seconds!!
Freshers' Weekend 2003: 31st October-2nd November
by Davide & Friederike
The joyful sound of the bagpipes greeted us, in the rainy darkness just outside the bus, the little lights flickering on the path to the wooden cottage. Warm light from inside. Welcome to Badaguish! A few moments to find a bed and then the ice-breaking ceilidh. Games and dances, lollipops for the winners, fun for everybody. The kitchen life begins (choosing to chop plums at 2:30am - mad!) while modern disco takes over from ceilidh, until the tiredness claims almost everybody (a few never made it to bed at all!).
And then the bagpipes again! Not so welcome this time - too early in the morning, slow movements to breakfast. The country dancing workshop helps restore some co-ordination (we can do this!), promptly lost again with the swing dances - something new for most people. Some people have partied too much already and lie on the armchairs; Flora the pig is the queen of the pillows. The afternoon begins with the outdoor game. Teams roam around to answer the question and plunder the forest of its rubbish and debris, all in order to build the highest lighthouse on the beach of Loch Morlich. Johann tries to fill the loch with sand (well we think that's what he was trying to do!), many enthusiastic people join in. They all get very wet.
Back 'home' to Badaguish for a hot cup of tea or coffee, and Irish dancing or outdoor games. Then last minute preparation of costumes for the evening - a few branches can make do for those who are leaving it to the very last minute. The hall takes life again with a theme of 'Fairy Tales': fairies, sprites, devils, mermaids, wolves, princesses, princes, Pinoccio, Beauty and the Beast (but which was which?!), Little Red Riding Hood, a beanstalk, a Christmas tree(?), Tarzan(?!), and a Hulla dancers (? uh?!), take their place for a fabulous 'hallowe'en' dinner. Then quickly the floor is cleared for the dances, and very soon the disadvantages of wearing a giant pea costume becomes clear!! Spinning, turning, setting; charges out into the cold, muscial chaos presided over by Beauty (aka Neil). And lollipops, of course. A last game of syrup covered scones, apple dooking and chocolates in flour gets all participants very messy! The evening continues with a warm bonfire. Songs and whisky, whisky and marshmellows , whisky and... At this point everything gets a bit confused for some reason....
And then the piercing sound of the bagpipes again! Our tiredness is now far beyond the power of coffee, but by miracle and enthusiasm we learn some Highland dancing. And then it's time to leave Badaguish and we head for Glen Turret whisky distillery - the home of Famous Grouse. The dem team gives great proof of will by sacrificing their last energies in a dem for visitors to the distillery (proof they can dance in their sleep!). With great music by David Anderson on the box and Yoshimi on pipes. The dem gives everybody a discount on the distillery tour. Then back to Edinbiurgh. Saying goodbye to everybody (well goodbye until the next New Scotland class in two days time!). It was a great weekend!!