Welcome

ANNOUNCEMENT: We have CANCELLED all our classes and dances until September as a result of government advice on COVID-19. Our AGM has been postponed until the Autumn (Date TBC). Please see our facebook page for regular updates.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Our new Distance Learning tab is now live, with Quizzes, Information and Key/Core Skills Exercises for those under curfew/ or isolating. More to Follow.

Welcome to the RSCDS Manchester Branch website. We are a volunteer-run group who enjoy this lively and entertaining form of dancing. Currently we have two classes which run during term time as follows:

• Beginner/Intermediate on Tuesdays September - May;
• Advanced on alternate Wednesdays September - March.

Please see our Classes page for more details.

We also have two social dances per year, in November and February. The beginner's classes will help prepare you for these. Please see our Social Dances page for more details.

Occasionally we are able to perform demonstrations or run Ceilidhs for a small fee, subject to availability. Due to the size of the group, we request at least three months notice. More details can be found on our Displays and Demonstrations page.

What is Scottish Country Dancing?

Scottish country dancing is a form of social or group dancing similar to ceilidh dancing, and not to be confused with Highland or other forms of "folk" dancing. Dances usually involve between 4 and 10 dancers, with each pair of dancers taking a turn in the spotlight, supported by the other dancers in the group. Dances follow patterns made up of a sequence of discrete movements called "formations". Whilst there is some footwork to be learned, the emphasis is on the patterns made around the dance hall and the fun and friendly atmosphere. Having mastered the basics, a dancer should be able to confidently participate at ceilidhs and other social dances.

There are three types of Scottish Country Dancing: Jigs, Reels and Strathspeys. Jigs and reels are faster dances, whereas Strathspeys are uniquely Scottish with a very slow and sedate tempo. All three tempos are taught at our classes.

About The RSCDS

The Scottish Country Dance Society was formed in Glasgow in 1923 with the aim of preserving country dances as danced in Scotland. The society recieved its "Royal" status in 1951 and has expanded to over 170 branches in the UK and worldwide. The Manchester branch was founded in 1935 and continues to hold classes and dances suitable for all levels of dancer.

More about the RSCDS can be found here.

Dancing and Health

Dancing is an excellent way of keeping active and reducing stress and anxiety. It is suitable for all ages, fitness and ability levels. Dancing is an ideal way of meeting people and making new friends. Scottish country dancing is also very good at improving memory as the dance form requires you to remember short sequences of dance figures, which will be repeated several times throughout the dance.

See our FAQ page for more details.

Class Timetable

ANNOUNCEMENT: We have CANCELLED all our classes and dances until September as a result of government advice on COVID-19. Our AGM has been postponed until the Autumn (Date TBC). Please see our facebook page for regular updates.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Our new Distance Learning tab is now live, with Quizzes, Information and Key/Core Skills Exercises for those under curfew/ or isolating. More to Follow.

Our Beginner/Intermediates class venue is: Dance Studio 1, Chorlton High School, Nell Lane, Manchester, M21 7SL - From the car park, go around the right hand end of the big building, across the playground and into the smaller building and up the stairs (2 min walk from the car park).

Our Advanced class venue is: Ladybarn Community Hub, Royle Street, Ladybarn, M14 6RN

Our class timetable is given below. All our classes start at 7.30pm and last two hours. Your first class with us is free. £6 per class thereafter, (£5 for RSCDS members, 25% discount for under 25's. Payment by cash or cheque). Prior to your first class, please email to let us know you are planning on attending.

Our Beginner / Intermediate class is for adults who have never tried Scottish dancing before, or who are returning to dancing from a long break. The lessons get progressively harder each week, therefore we recommend beginners start within the first 2-3 weeks of the term and attend for the whole year.

Intermediate dancers are also welcome to join the Beginner / Intermediate class at any time.

Our Advanced class is for anyone who has been dancing at least two years, has good knowledge of footwork and basic figures, and an interest in complex or unusual dances.

Unfortunately we are currently unable to offer a children's class. Teenagers may attend the adult's classes provided they are accompanied by a participating parent or guardian for the whole lesson. Please email for more information.

Parking is available at all of our venues, with public transport also nearby. Bring a bottle of water to class as dancing is thirsty work. Please wear ordinary loose, comfortable clothing and flat shoes or trainers. No heels or boots please. After 3-4 weeks of lessons, we recommend you invest in the proper shoes. Please see the Useful Links tab for more details on where to buy shoes.

Our Forthcoming Social Dances

ANNOUNCEMENT: We have CANCELLED all our classes and dances until September as a result of government advice on COVID-19. Our AGM has been postponed until the Autumn (Date TBC). Please see our facebook page for regular updates.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Our new Distance Learning tab is now live, with Quizzes, Information and Key/Core Skills Exercises for those under curfew/ or isolating. More to Follow.

Below are the dates, programmes and crib sheets for our social dances. Dances for our social programmes are practiced in our Beginner/Intermediate classes in the 4-5 weeks immediately prior to the dance. Some Scottish dance experience is recommended to be able to participate fully. If you haven't danced before, or your only experience is Ceilidh dancing, please try one of our classes first.

The venue for all our social dances is: St Matthews Hall, Chapel Lane, Stretford, M32 9AJ

Our dances start at 7.30 pm and include a faith supper (everybody brings and shares a plate of sweet / savoury food) at the interval. Soft drinks are provided. There will also be a raffle (£1 per strip).

OOPS, you just missed... (Our Recent Social Dances - For Information Only)

Displays and Demonstrations

ANNOUNCEMENT: As a result of government advice on COVID-19 we are not taking any bookings until further notice. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Our main commitment is to our own classes and dances. However, occasionally we are able to facilitate ceilidhs, or do demonstrations and displays to advertise Scottish Country Dancing for a small fee.

If you wish to arrange for a demonstration or ceilidh please contact us via our email address at least three months in advance of your proposed date. Please note that since we are a small volunteer group with other comittments, it is not possible for us to facilitate events outside of evenings and weekends, or on dates which clash with our own classes and dances.

In recent years we have had a stall and/or display at both the "Manley Park Celebrate Festival" and the "Ladybarn Park Fun Day". This is something we hope to continue doing each year to advertise our classes. Feel free to come along and chat to us at the next event. If you think we might make a good addition to your summer fair or fun day, please let us know via our email address at least three months in advance.

How To Contact Us

For all enquiries, please email: rscds.manchester@gmail.com. We will endeavour to respond to your email within 7 days.

You can also keep up to date with us via our facebook group

Our venue for our Tuesday Beginner/Intermediates classes is: Dance Studio 1, Chorlton High School, Nell Lane, Manchester, M21 7SL From the car park, go around the right hand end of the big building, across the playground and into the smaller building and up the stairs (2 min walk from the car park)

Our venue for our Wednesday Advanced classes is: Ladybarn Community Hub, Royle Street, Ladybarn, M146RN Park in the car park or on the quiet side street outside.

Our venue for our Social Dances is: St Matthews Hall, Chapel Lane, Stretford, M32 9AJ

Members of other RSCDS branches and Scottish Country Dance Groups wishing to send us information about your upcoming events, please email details/flyers to: rscds.manchester@gmail.com or give flyers to a comittee member in person. We display event flyers on our noticeboard at classes. Thank you.

For A list of other local clubs and groups, please see our Useful Links page

RSCDS Manchester is a registered charity, No. 1082107.

GDPR Statement: By contacting us you agree that we may from time to time send you details of our classes and events. We will not use your details for any other purpose than this or administering your membership and will not give your details to third parties.

Useful Links to other Clubs, Classes and Dance Resources

Dance Shoes

After your first 3-4 weeks of lessons we recommend you obtain the proper shoes. Ladies wear black "ballet flats", whilst men wear "ghillies". It is strongly recommended you wear dance insoles inside your shoes. For those with long term foot or knee problems, jazz shoes (with insoles) may be a better option. Shoes can be obtained via the following links (in order of recommendation). Please ask class tutors for more advice.

Fit To Dance, Altringham Sells a variety of ladies shoes for all types of dance.

RSCDS Leeds Branch Shop. Please note this shop is run part-time by volunteers. Order online or at a Leeds Branch Dance.

James Senior Shoes (St Andrews, Scotland) A dedicated Scottish Country Dance shop for bespoke fittings.

Thistle Shoes (Glenrothes, Scotland) A dedicated Scottish Country Dance shop for bespoke fittings.

General Scottish Dance Resources

Scottish Country Dance Database (SCDDB) for dance cribs and videos.

Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary for instructional videos on figures and footwork.

RSCDS Headquarters

RSCDS Leeds Branch Shop for CDs and books. Please note this shop is run part-time by volunteers. Order online or at a Leeds Branch Dance.

Youtube has many videos of scottish dancing, including instructional videos - although video and dancer quality varies.

Wikipedia long read on Scottish Country Dancing

Nearby Children's Classes

Macclesfield SCD have a children's class on a Saturday morning.

Wigan Thistle Society run family classes

Information for Guide and Scout Groups

Gallery

This is a collection of some of our recent photos and videos.

If you have any videos or photos taken at any of our recent events and would like them displayed on our website, please send them to us via the branch email address.

Frequently Asked Questions

What to wear and bring to class

• Flat, lightweight shoes or trainers are ideal for your first few lessons. Do not be tempted to wear heels or heavy boots since others around you are wearing thin dance shoes and don't want to be trampled!
• There is no set dress code for classes. However, it is advisable for you to wear comfortable clothes that you can move around in and with at least one layer you can take off easily, as you will get quite warm during the class - particularly in the winter where venues may start off quite cold.
• A (reusable) bottle of water.
• Weekly Class fee (in cash or cheque)

When to start dancing

You are never too old (or too young) to start. Scottish dancing has a very wide age range, with participants globally ranging from 4-5 years up to people in their 80’s and 90’s! However, RSCDS Manchester Branch are currently unable to offer a children's class.

Our classes are open to complete beginners from September and January each year and those with more experience at any time. There is no requirement to start on the first class of the term/year, although to allow progression, the earlier you start and the more classes you can commit to, the better. If you have to miss one or two classes it isn’t a problem.

Anyone with long-term hip, knee or ankle injuries are advised to consult their GP or Physio. for general advice before starting lessons.

What is the class format?

Classes last just under 2 hours and follow this general order:

• Arrival and Payment (~5 minutes)
• Warm-up (~5 minutes)
• Step and Figure Practice (~15 minutes)
• Dance walk-throughs and dancing (~40 minutes, covering 2-3 dances)
• Break / Notices (~5 min)
• Dance walk-throughs and dancing (45 min, covering 2-3 dances)
• Cool-down (~5 minutes)

The objective of each lesson is to learn and practice the figures/formations, footwork and dance etiquette rather than remember whole dances. Above all, the aim is to have fun and meet new people.

How big are the classes?

Typical class sizes are between 8 and 24 people. Due to the nature of Scottish dancing as a form of social dance, at least 6 people are needed for a class to go ahead. If there is an odd number of people, some of the more experienced dancers will take it in turns to sit out to give other dancers a chance (and to have a well-deserved rest!) This is perfectly normal for this dance form, so please don’t feel you’ve intruded into a select group. No-one has an established/ permanent dance partner and you are expected to change partners after every dance, so everyone will get to participate.

How quickly will I progress, and do I have to take exams/ enter competitions?

Typically, anyone who has been dancing less than a year is considered a beginner. After which, progression is at an individual's own pace, which will depend on age, ability and enthusiasm. The majority of dancers do so for pleasure and the social aspect. Adult Dance Achievement Awards (DAA) Intermediate, Advanced and Very Advanced Certificates and Teaching Certificate Qualifications are available through the RSCDS. Please speak to your teacher for advice if you wish to take one of these certificates - these are not held locally. Further information is available here

The RSCDS Leeds branch runs the "White Rose Festival" - a day of "en-mass" dancing each July. All Intermediate and above dancers are invited to participate, either by submitting a team or by asking to join the Leeds teams. Note that this is not a competition and dancers are not marked or graded for their performance. Please see the RSCDS Leeds Branch Website for further details.

Our Comittee and Teachers

RSCDS Manchester Branch is organized, run and taught by volunteers. The committee is elected each May at our AGM by Branch members.

Note: Due to the Coronavirus outbreak, our AGM has been postponed until the Autumn. Date to be announced

The 2019 - 2020 Comittee is as follows:

• Chairman: Dave
• Hon. President: Barbara H.
• Hon. Life Vice-Presidents: Joan and Val
• Hon. Secretary / Membership Secretary: Rob
• Hon. Treasurer: Nora
• Advertising and Media: Heather
• General Comittee Member: Hilary

The Beginner/Intermediate Class teachers are: Heather and Emma.

The musicians for the Beginner/Intermediate Class are: Ishbel, Barbara and Georgia.

The Advanced Class teachers are: Barbara H. and Dave.

The four Tuesday classes after Easter until our AGM each year are taught by invited teachers from other groups.

RSCDS Membership

Class fees are priced on a per-class basis (see our Classes page for details) and you do not have to be a member of the RSCDS to enjoy dancing at RSCDS Manchester Branch classes or dances. If you do wish to become a member of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society (RSCDS) this entitles you to:

• A £1 discount at all RSCDS Manchester classes (per lesson).
• A £1 discount at RSCDS Manchester branch dances (please provide proof of membership).
• Discounts at other RSCDS events elsewhere in the UK.
• The ability to have a say in how your branch is run, including voting for or joining the comittee at the Branch AGM
• A twice-yearly magazine subscription from the RSCDS Headquarters.
• A bi-monthly e-newsletter with news, updates, competitions and offers from the RSCDS.
• Priority booking at RSCDS Residential Schools and Events.
• Be part of the world's largest Scottish Country Dance network.
• The satisfaction of knowing that your membership makes a difference by helping preserve and revitalize an important part of Scottish culture.

The membership subscription can be paid in class or by post to our Treasurer (by cheque to RSCDS Manchester Branch or in cash). The membership fee is £25, (made up of £20 to RSCDS headquarters and £5 Manchester Branch subscription).

Distance Learning - Useful Guides, Quizzes and Further Reading

This section of the website hosts some useful guides for various aspects of SCD which are not easy to teach in class. These guides are intended for the enthusiastic dancer of any level, who wishes to self-study. This section was partly inspired by the temporary halt to our classes due to the COVID-19 outbreak in spring/summer 2020 and a desire for our members to continue learning, combined with some projects I had been meaning to do for a while.

Anyone wishing to contribute material, suggest topics or submit a correction, please let us know either on our facebook page or via our email address (or contact Heather directly if you already know her details).

• Beginner's Guide: How to "Cast" (A Detailed Introduction to different types of "Casting")
• Beginner's Guide: Jig, Reel or Strathspey? A guide for the Non-Musician
• Beginner's Guide: How To Prepare For A Social Dance
• Social Dance Etiquette: A guide for All

Some Quizzes. Answers are also presented in a separate file, but be honest with yourself!