ROYAL SCOTTISH COUNTRY

DANCE SOCIETY

WHO

The Cincinnati Branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society traces its roots to August 13, 1958, when eighteen people, including Miss Nora Kindness, met to form a group wherein they could learn Scottish Dancing. From this meeting, The Scottish Folk Dancing Society of Cincinnati was formed. A year later the group became The Scottish Dance Society of Cincinnati, and on August 11, 1961 became an Affiliate Member of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society.

On June 20, 1983, after almost 25 years of dancing, the group became The Cincinnati Branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society. This occurred when Babs Egbert became the group's second fully certificated RSCDS teacher.

WHAT

The Cincinnati Branch RSCDS promotes and preserves Scottish Country Dancing, the ballroom/social dance of Scotland. The Branch conducts instruction in Scottish Country Dancing, holds social dances and workshops, and performs demonstrations of Scottish Country Dance at numerous events in the Southwest Ohio area year 'round.

BRIEF HISTORY
Scottish Country Dancing is a form of social dance enjoyed throughout the world. Coming into its present form in eighteenth century Scotland, it has continued in popularity through the ensuing centuries with an expanding range of new dances devised every year. Although the term country seems to imply folk dancing, the probable derivation is from the French contra which means in straight opposed lines. In contrast to folk dancing, Scottish Country Dances were and still are danced in the ballroom as well as the barn. Today, Scottish Country Dancing flourishes under the leadership of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society in Edinburgh, Scotland. Although the bagpipe is the musical instrument most commonly associated with Scotland, Scottish Country Dancing is usually performed to bands playing the accordion, fiddle, piano, and/or trap drum.

DANCES
Scottish Country Dances consist of reels, jigs, hornpipes, and the unique-to-Scotland strathspey. Most dances are performed to specific tunes that emphasize and reinforce the movements of the dance. A repertoire of about 40 defined formations provides the basis of most dances, and it is the combination and sequence of these standard formations that makes each dance unique. (Source: Collins Pocket Reference: Scottish Country Dancing, Compiled in association with The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, c. 1996.)

WHEN & WHERE

Interested in trying Scottish Country Dancing? Instruction is available from the Cincinnati Branch RSCDS at the locations below. You don't need to bring a partner, and no special equipment (other than loose clothing and a pair of soft-soled shoes) is required.

Cincinnati Branch Associated Classes:

See other classes in the region on our Neighbors page.