Scottish Country Dancers will meet this fall

Scottish Country Dancing (SCD) is the kind of ballroom dancing which used to be danced in Scotland before the Jazz Age washed ashore in the 1920's, and before the Waltz hit in the 1840's.

What is known of it is mostly due to the efforts of two women who in the 1930's started what became the Royal Scottish Country Dancing Society (RSCDS).

They collected what they could find of the old jigs, reels, hornpipes, and strathspeys, some of which go back over 300 years; and then enthusiasts started inventing new ones.

There are are SCD societies all over the world, including such surprising places as Italy, Japan, Russia, and Texas; find them at  www.rscds.org

The dances are a cross between contra dancing and ballet. You don't need to bring a partner; Scottish army regiments do this for entertainment after regimental dinners. They offer at least as much exercise as contra dancing but in a more polished style.

Beginners are always welcome. There is a group in Rochester which will meet Tuesday nights at the South Presbyterian Church starting in September.

For more information on SCD call Tom and Jill Herendeen in Lyons, at 946.1088, or e-mail jeaherendeen@yahoo.com

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