(Photograph courtesy of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society)
I have just come back from the beautiful city of Perth in Scotland where I was a delegate for our Branch at the Annual General Meeting which was held on Saturday 4th November. These meetings have a reputation for lasting getting on for 3 hours, but this year, much to everyone’s delight it was over in 45 minutes due to a different format over the weekend. Open forums were held on Saturday morning where reports and updates from the various committees were given, which very much shortened the agenda! The only motion, which was not contentious, was to keep the annual membership subscription for next year (2018-2019) at £20, so this went through without any difficulty!
There was an open teaching conference held on Friday, archive displays, RSCDS shop stalls, a talk on Scottish dance music, two dance classes on Saturday and Sunday mornings with live music and a display of dancing in the town on Saturday morning. There was also a Civic Reception with presentations before the ball.
The highlights and the fun of the weekend were undoubtedly the two nights of wonderful enthusiastic dancing with 500 or more dancers from all over the world in the main arena in the Bell’s Sports Centre. All the dances were fully re-capped and Friday night’s music was provided by Scott Band and his Scottish Dance band and Saturday night’s formal ball was danced to the music of Colin Dewar and his band. The music was amazing, wonderful wide sets and everyone looking their best! It was lovely to meet up with people that I have met at Summer School, dancing holidays and festivals and dance with them again. I am sure that video clips of the dancing will soon be appearing on the HQ website and Youtube. There was for the first time this year an alternative ceilidh held on the Friday night.
Elizabeth Gull
Nottingham RSCDS 