past events: 2003-04 (summer)
fund-raising dems | Basque Country trip | Summer Dance and& BBQ | Dunedin Summer Dance | Castle Ceilidh | Dundee Univeristy Ball | Red Cross Ceilidh | Aberdeen University Dance | Edinburgh Music Festival Competition
New Scotland fund-raising dems 2003-2004
Photos from the last 2003-2004 Vicky League ceilidh
by Rachel & Nic
Fund-raising dems in 2003-2004 inlcuded a mix of our 'usuals' and some
'one-offs'. Some dems raised funds for New Scotland generally, while others
were specifically to raise funds for our 'trip fund' - specifically for
subsidising trips to dance festivals abroad and visits by foreign dance
groups invited by us to Scotland.
This year our 'usual dems' included helping to run the monthly Victoria
League ceilidhs - more generally known as 'Vicky Leagues' (see photos),
helping at IALS (Institute of Applied Language Studies) ceilidhs over
the summer, running Scottish evenings for the AHFT (Americal High School
Festival Theatre) on their visits to perform in Edinburgh Fringe, and
Scottish evenings for a number of other visiting groups from Easter onwards.
The Vicky League dems were, as usual, popular, fun, and a good opportunity
for our less experienced dancers to get a taste of 'demming' - practicing
dancing in front of an audience and teaching ceilidh dances. For these
events we also MC the evening and provide Highland dancing and Scottish
step dancing displays. The Vicky Leagues were, in fact so popular this
year, that extra ones were arranged in Third term as well as the usual
regular monthy Sunday evening slots in First and Second terms.
The IALS ceilidhs are also always good fun - we dem a few country dances
and help run the ceilidh by demonstrating the dances, organising sets
and helping people through the dances. We also all get a bonus free haggis
supper! Due to semesterisation and the early start to the 2004-2005 university
year, the last IALS ceilidh of the summer actually clashed with our first
dance class night of 2004-2005 - but we still managed to provide a small
team to help IALS.
The Scottish evenings both around Easter and later in the summer all went
very well and were a much appreciated opportunity for us to rehearse the
stage performances for our summer dance trip. These evenings involve a
full programme of country and highland dance displays with participation
ceilidh dancing, a solo piping display, and 'the Feileadh Mor' - a demonstraiton
of the origins of the kilt. Our earlier Scottish evenings were variously
in Kirk O' Field and Lutton Place for Dutch and French parties, and the
AHFT evenings were in South Hall at Pollock. One of the Highlights of
the latter dems was when our friends from Erfurt - where we went on a
summer dance trip in 2003 - turned up and invited us to their 2005 festival!
Our 'one-off' fund-raising dems this year were varied. A display at the
engineering ceilidh was designed to promote ourselves and enabled us to
hand out out shiny new promotional leaflets for the first time (the ones
that didn't fly off the back of Stephens bicycle on his way back from
collecitng them that is!). Many New Scotland members also helped out Dunedin
with their dems over the year, and we were very grateful when Dunedin
repaid our help: our last-minute change in summer dance trip plans meant
that most of us were in the Basque Country, when we were booked to be
helping at a wedding celebration at Hopetoun House. Their help meant we
had a full team and the event went very well.
Alkartasuna 40th Anniversary Festival, Basque Country
Photos
on the website of Falcons de Barcelona
by Catherine
Far too early on the morning of 28th June, a group of around 20 bleary-eyed New Scotland members and assorted musician and Highland dancer friends assembled at Edinburgh Airport, complete with dubious items of luggage including swords and the stuffed pig! After a long journey, including several hours dozing in the sun at Bristol, we arrived at the airport in Bilbao. Here we whiled away the time waiting for our baggage by dancing Black Mountian Reel a couple of times - much to the amusement of thosewho had come to meet us (and everyoen else on our flight) who could see us from the viewing window! We were greeted by several members of the Basque group - familiar to some of New Scotland from Poland in 2002 and the Dunedin Festival last year - and we all travelled by coach to the hostel we were staying in located in beautiful hilly countryside above San Sebastian. The first night was not too strenuous for us - we ate a wonderful meal cooked by the Basques (3 courses and all yummy!) then had....a ceilidh (of course!).
The next morning we went to visit some amazing limestone caves in the French part of the Basque country. We then had time for a dance practice at sports hall before some liquid refreshement and a wander.. The practise paid off, and our first performance of the week, in an outdoor pelota court went well (pelota is a Basque game - sort of like squash using hands?! - there are pelota courts everywhere! They make handy practice and performance venues although the floors are concrete). The Basques also performed - the first time that the newer New Scotland members had seen them dance. After the performance, we sampled some Basque cider with our dinner (and were taught the traditional pouring method - some people found they needed much practice...) before the more informal dancing inevitable(!) started. The highland dancers decided to teach the fling to some unsuspecting locals in the restaurant. This was greeted with much enthusiasm. Then one of the restaurant propriators produced an accordion and, with Basque and Scottish musicians, the party really began! We did some ceilidh dancing and also tried some Basque dancing which was great fun and (some of it) very silly!
We spent the third day, Wednesday, in San Sebastian, the main city in the area. It is a fantastic place - there are 3 beaches in the city centre! Swimming (including waves which stole people's glasses!) and sunbathing were a must - although judging by colour at our evening meal arranged in a restaurant in San Sebastian, a few people had a little too much of the sun! That evening the final two members of our party arrived and for the next day our whole trip-group was together.
The following day, Thursday, we had a tour of the local traditional boat building museum and a boat trip - including some rather bumpy bits! Then in the evening we had our next performance, which was in another outdoor pelota court. It went fairly well (except for a slight hiccup in Round House Reel); we were, however, grateful for the opportunity to cover the floor in slip-stop when we did Postie's with a broom! Importantly the audience seemed to like us - we even had people we didn't know come and compliment our dancing afterwards! Another delicious meal followed the performance with exchanges of gifts with the local digitaries and a sudden craze for checkered cloth hats (see photos)!
On the Friday, one of our group had to head home, and two other dance groups arrived: A Buxaina from Gallicia, and Falcons de Barcelona (who built towers of people!). We began the evening with a parade around the beautiful village of Lesaka. We paused to dance at several points, my favourite being the zebra crossing (the cars were very patient!). All four groups then performed in the square, and we exchanged gifts. We all ate together. There wasn't really space to dance in that room, but somehow we managed it...
Our final performance was on Saturday in Pasaia, the local village of our hosts Alkartasuna. Afterwards - guess what?! - more dancing and games, before eventuially heading back to the hostel to snatch a measly amount of sleep. We departed early (and sleepily) the next morning. The Basques impressively managed to muster enough energy to perform a goodbye dance for us (is it normal to be able to do high kicks so early in the morning?!).
All together, it was a fantastic week and we are very grateful to Alkartasuna
for hosting us at their 40th Anniversary Festival.
New Scotland Summer Dance and BBQ 2004
by Joel
With a view to ending the year with a fantastic dance and mercy to the wind, the NS summer dance is written by a NS member to include all their favourite dances, however tiring. This was certainly a theme at this year's summer dance, written by Jan. The programme was great, with dance after dance of fast and furious fun, leaving us all exhaustedly satisfied by the end of the evening! We then, of course, retired to Catherine's flat to moan about our feet and the fact that we'd be up in 10 hours to get to the beach for our barbeque!
Beach BBQ...
As usual we were on Portobello beach praying for sun. We weren't disappointed. There was no shortage of barbeques or food and soon we were fed and wondering nervously who was going to get thrown in the sea first. Contrary to last year, many of the men managed to avoid the brine (though in cases like mine, a certain amount of wrestling was required). We all marvelled at the depth of a hole which was the effort of a few of us. Disappointingly, no-one was buried to their neck standing up! Hole-jumping championships ensued. Overall a very silly day, no complaints there!
Dunedin Summer Dance 2004
by Linda
As usual the Dunedin Summer Dance was held in the upper hall at Cluny Church Centre. The weather had decided it was summer - so we were all rather warm even before the dancing started. Gary Donaldson and his band produced some excellent sets of music which, along with the programme, made everyone even hotter!
The interval provided a very welcome break for cooling down and chatting, and the food provided was much appreciated (especially the strawberries and pineapple). The second half continued the warm theme of the evening with some even better music from the band. I had a really good evening and from what I heard from other people I wasn't the only one.
St Andrews Castle Ceilidh 2004
by Alex
Once again, the historic and beautiful ruin of St. Andrews Castle provided the backdrop for one of the most popular events in the New Scotland calendar. A small caoch load of New Sctoland left a windy and overcast Edinburgh, hoping that the weather was better 'up north'. After a bit of a delay at the Forth Road Bridge, the group made it into St. Andrews, and even had time for a 'chippy' before the dancing started. The dancing began in the usual fashion with the Gay Gordons, and just as well, as those new to the Ceilidh, could be seen trying to adapt to the dancing on grass… (No toe-pointing here!)
At the interval, some of the St. Andrews group put on a fine display
of Country and Highland dancing for everybody before we all got going
withteh second half. The band was on good form, and the dancing fun, although
even the most powerful speakers have trouble making the caller audible
in the far reaches of the grounds. This mgiht have been the cause of some
confusion although other confusion seemed to be caused by a lot of very
enthusiastic people wanting to start dancing before they knew what they
were to dance!
As the sun went down and the castle was lit by moonlight, the dance came to a close, and soon after, a line of torches stretched from the castle to the water front, led to the tune of "Highland Cathedral" by a piper, and followed by some lovely(?) singing/humming/noise making by several New Scotland members! After the procession many of the 'SUSCDF' university group members had time to enjoy a drink and a chat in the pub before setting off home again. There is a bit of debate as to whether the noise heard on the New Scotland bus on the way home was indeed a sing-song, or if it was a case of lots of cats being strangled!
Dundee University Ball 2004
by Joel and Rachel
This year a few car-loads of New Scotland people went up to the dance in Dundee (well actually Newport-on-Tay, just over the river from Dundee) on 1st May. David Anderson provided excellent music and the programme had a mix of familiar and not-so-familiar dances. It was an amazingly hot day (for Scotland on May day that is!) and even when all the outside doors were opened we still cooked! I have to also compliment Dundee University on the sunset that they arranged outside the hall, which sent bright orange sunbeams down the middle of our set during one the of the dances! Fantastic!
Some lucky(?!) souls spent much of the interval discussing university
dance dates for next year. With many of the universitys going to semesters,
things are all change on the university dance calendar - so stay awake
next year becasue not everything may be when you expect it to be!
Join New Scotland and Red Cross Ceilidh 2004
by Alex
It was that time of year again, where New Scotland helps the good cause that is the Red Cross. This ceilidh was possibly not on the best of nights, being on a wonderfully hot and sunny Monday, but there was still a good turnout including plenty of New Scotland members. Andy Kain and his band were fantastic (as usual!) and Michael who was calling, was happy that there were the 'right number' of people to do all the dances he wanted (not too squashed and not to few).
The interval signalled time for the Red Cross Raffle, with New Scotland members scooping a couple of the prizes. (Others missing out narrowly on about all the prizes!). The smaller number of people compared to our recent ceilidhs (Christmas ceilidh and Student Festival ceilidh) meant that the dancing was comfortable, everyone having some room to move. Unfortunately, however, the hot day, so early in the year when Teviot heating was still on meant that the heat was almost unbearable! We melted! But luckily no-one needed to call on the expertise of the Red Cross members present!
All in all, a good night for dancing in a good cause.
Aberdeen Univerisy Annual Dance 2004
by Linda and Johann
There were eight brave souls who ventured north to Aberdeen on the 24th
of April. We arrived with plenty of time to get changed and comment on
the size of the spread (which was large and given we had all been told
to take picnics - not that we complained about having fruit salad for
pudding!).
The first half of the dance was lively and thankfully the weather during
the interval was glorious, so at 9:30pm we all headed outside to enjoy
our picnics and cool down. The second half proved to be equally
interesting, especially with another brand new dance from John Drewry
"The St. Machar Reel" (we just need a Jig for the full set! :)
The music was provided by Ian Cruickshanks and his Scottish Dance Band
who, along with a fantastic programme, made for a wonderful evening. It
left me [Linda] in need of caffeine before I could contemplate driving
back to our accommodation for the evening; so off to the, obligatory,
after dance party where lots of tea, sweets and pistachios were consumed
*yum*.
Aberdeen may seem like a long way to go but it is well worth the drive
as their dances have been excellent evenings. Plus many thanks to (ex-Newcastle)
Sara for putting us up in Kintore (just outside Aberdeen) and especially
for the butteries and bacon butties, scrumptious :)
Edinburgh Music Festival Competition 2004
by Jan and Rachel
On Saturday 24th April (a somewhat earlier date than in previous years) New Scotland dem teams took part in the Edinburgh Music Festival Scottish country dance competition. As usual we entered three teams: a ladies and a mixed technique team, and a mixed diplay team. All the teams did really well receiving "EXCELLENT" ratings in both technique classes and with the diplay looking very good, despite (or perhaps because of!) a rather nervous and less-then-perfect 'practice run' at Social Dancing the Thursday before. After the competition the New Scotland teams and supporters (thank you to those who came to support us!) all headed off to the pub for some food and relaxation.
We would like to thank Margo, our dem class teacher, for she's the one
who made it possible and to James who played for us at our practices.
But also very importantly, thanks go to all the dem team dancers for their
effort and hard work, especially taking into account that we had only
a few practices this term and that for some of our dancers this was their
first competition. Well done all!