Ceilidh Dance newsletter – 2012/13 #5 – next Ceilidh Dance – Friday, September 28, 2012
St. Abb’s Habour
The first Ceilidh Dance is fast approaching – it is less than two weeks away on Friday, September 28. As usual it will be held in the Scottish Cultural Centre at 7 p.m. with the amazingly low cost of $10 (students etc. $8) and with live music by Calanais. Please pass the word around so we can start the season on a high note with a large attendance. It is lots of fun as most of you know.
Last week’s picture of St. Magnus Cathedral in Orkney drew a number of comments from Orcadian readers. The picture does show the cathedral but it is viewed through the ruins of the Bishop’s Palace.
Here is a list of performance venues sent to me by the Inverglen Dancers:
Sun. Sept. 30 — Sunrise Living — Vancouver.
For more information on classes or performances: inverglendance@shaw.ca. Sandra Crosby
If anyone has any suggestions or complaints regarding the newsletter please let me know – ceilidh@rscdsvancouver.org ==============================================================
I don’t feel old. I don’t feel anything until noon. Then it’s time for my nap.
– Bob Hope
““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““`
NOT SO LONG AGO: Comments made in the year 1955!
I never thought I’d see the day all our kitchen appliances would be electric. They’re even making electric typewriters now.
Sound of Islay
Well I am not here this weekend I am there or will be still I hope. I’ve written this in advance so cannot make any comment on the weather or anything else that may have happened but there are quite a few things coming up soon so check the list of Coming Events. If you have not joined up in a class for Scottish Country dancing you are missing out on a wonderful past-time which apart from being excellent exercise for the mind and body is also heaps of fun and you meet the nicest people too. So get up, check the list of classes and join one in your area or on at a time that is convenient for you. – you won’t regret it.
I am off in the far east (P.E.I. to be exact) but I will be back in lots of time for the Ceilidh Dance on Friday, September 28 and I am hoping everyone will be contacting their friends to get them to come along. See more info later in the newsletter.
PEI is a lovely Province, very easy on the eye. Nice rolling countryside with the famous red soil and red sand beaches. It is rather flat – well we have not seen anything that could be called a mountain. Lots of cultivated fields with potatoes being the main crop but there is a good variety and the patchwork of colour is very pleasing. Despite driving more than 2,500 km it has been a relaxing trip and we have had great accommodation and meals. We atteded a Ceilidh but other than a step dancer (Irish) there was no dancing – good music though.
Check out the BC Highland Games website at www.bchighlandgames.com
“Whenever I watch TV and see those poor starving kids all over the world, I can’t help but cry. I mean I’d love to be skinny like that, but not with all those flies and death and stuff.”
–Mariah Carey
St. Andrew’s
COMING EVENTS IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS –
| 2012 | |
| Sep 28 | Ceilidh Dance at the Scottish Cultural Centre — class at 7 dance 8 — 11 Admission $10 (students $8) |
| Sep 28 | Vancouver Branch RSCDS Annual General Meeting, Scottish Cultural Centre, 8886 Hudson Street, Vancouver at 7:00 p.m. This is your chance to have your say and to vote in the new Board. |
| Sep 29 | Pearl’s Welcome Back Social- 7:30 p.m. in the Scottish Cultural Centre, 8886 Hudson Street, Vancouver with music by the Tartan Players — tickets $15 at the door — an easy programme which you can find on the Branch website at www.rscdsvancouver.org |
| Sep 29 — 30 | Saskatchewan Branch workshop, banquet and ball with Irene Paterson and Fred Demarse and musicians Ken Nattrass and Ron Krug — info at www.rscdssask.org |
| Oct 6 | Bellingham monthly social |
| Oct 6/8 | Banff, Alberta workshop & Ball with teachers Sue Porter, Scotland, Rona Wallace, USA; Marjorie McLaughlin, USA & Simon Scott, BC with music by Laird Brown & the Scottish Accent — www.rscdscalgary.org or contact Ilo Torgerson at 403-273-6579 torgeri@shaw.ca |
| Oct 14 | White Rock fall workshop with Maureen Lyon in Sullivan Hall, 6303 152nd Street, Surrey $10Advanced class 9:30 a.m. to noon; Intermediate and Beginner dancers 1:00 to 3:30 p.m.To register call or e-mail Laurie 604-944-6678 ljreel@telus.net or Gerda 604-531-4595 gerdab@shaw.ca |
| Oct 19 | Ceilidh Dance at the Scottish Cultural Centre — class at 7 dance 8 — 11 Admission $10 (students $8) |
| Oct 20 | Gleneagles Fall Dance, Christ the Redeemer Church, 595 Keith Road (just east of Taylor Way), West Vancouver 7:30 p.m. – $10 see www.rscdsvancouver.org for programme |
| Oct 20 | Nanaimo Fall TAC Workshop in Pleasant Valley Community Centre, Duomont Road, Nanaimo at 10:30 am Teacher: Evelyn Nixon This workshop is a must for all teachers and prospective teachers. Evelyn Nixon, the teacher for the day, invites you to e-mail her with anything you would like her to address in the workshop. We take the 8:30am ferry from Horseshoe Bay and we will be met at the ferry and taken to the hall. Would you please let Jean Wagstaff — jeedwag@yahoo.ca – know if you intend going and I will notify June McFadden the coordinator of the workshop of the number to be picked up from the ferry. Bring a packed lunch….and don’t forget your shoes and notebook. |
| Oct 26 – 27 | Bellingham workshop and ball with teachers Mary Murray and David Newitt — live music for classes and the ball which will be held at the fabulous Majestic Ballroom — info at andersonmary41@comcast.net Our website for details on the weekend is: www.bellinghamscd.org |
Also note that there is a Step Dance Workshop taught by Ron Wallace on October 20 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Northminster Presbyterian Church, 7706 – 25th Avenue, NW Seattle. For info contact Barbara at b_campbell@dccnet.com
Seattle Branch announces the start of their Challenge Class which are held on the 2nd Friday each month (next one on October 12) in the upper building, Room 7, Phinney Neighbourhood Association, 4532 Phinney Avenue, North Seattle at 7:30 p.m.
See website www.vancouverceilidh.org for a more complete list.
St. Mary’s Loch
IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER – by Erma Bombeck
(written after she found out she was dying of cancer).
But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute, look at it, and really see it . . live it and never give it back.
STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!!
‘
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
This morning on the motorway, I looked over to my right and there was a
Woman In a brand new VW !! doing 75mph with her face up next to her
rear view mirror putting on her eyeliner.
I looked away for a couple seconds! And when I looked back she was
halfway over in my lane, still working on that makeup.
As a man, I don’t scare easily.. but she scared me so much; I dropped my electric shaver, which knocked the meat pie out of my other hand.
In all the confusion of trying to straighten out the car using my knees against
the steering wheel, it knocked my Mobile phone away from my ear which fell
Into the coffee between my legs, splashed, and burned Big Jim and the Twins,
ruined the phone, soaked my trousers, and disconnected an Important call.
Bl00dy women drivers!!
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
St. Ninian’s Isle
The next Ceilidh Dance is on Friday, September 28, 2012 – that is the last Friday of the month.
Please help spread the word about all the Ceilidh Dances as that is the best (and cheapest) form of advertising. Here is a link where you can watch a short video of a Ceilidh Dance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MvUwZnY9Ms
The format for all of the regular monthly Ceilidh Dances will be the same with the class from 7 — 8 p.m. and the dance from 8 — 11 p.m. and all dances will be walked and talked through. The price is only – $10 or $8 for students which, for what you get is a super bargain — everyone is welcome. No partner is required and you should wear FLAT, comfy shoes and loose clothing. Children are also welcome but should be prepared to dance with other people as some of the dances require a change of partner. Don’t forget to bring a few extra $$$$ to help defray the cost of the refreshments which are otherwise free.
For those who enjoy listening to Scottish music, song, banter etc. try www.andysceilidh.co.uk/ this is a radio programme that you can get sent to you and listen any time you want.
The Branch has opened a Facebook Page at “RSCDS-Vancouver” – check it out there are some good pictures etc. www.facebook.com/rscdsvancouver. There is a link on both our website www.vancouverceilidh.org and the Branch website www.rscdsvancouver.org
It really is never too late to come along and join in one of many Scottish Country Dance (SCD) classes and SEPTEMBER is a great time to do it as all the classes have just started up again. You will be made very welcome. Many classes have a policy that the first night is FREE! Plan to come along to try out a class next week. There are classes all around and on different nights so
GIVE IT A GO!
Go to either www.rscdsvancouver.org or www,vancouverceilidh.org for a list of class locations and times.
For those who don’t know SCD is a fabulous pastime which is super exercise for body and mind. SCD is, naturally, rooted in Scotland but there are groups in almost every country so you can learn here and then dance with other groups when you vacation or travel. SCD is not to be confused with Highland Dancing which is more solo dancing. SCD is usually done with a partner in groups or sets however you do not need to come with a partner. It is more akin to Square Dancing. It takes a year or two of classes, workshops, etc. to get the basics learnt then you can hone your skills in advanced classes. You start by learning the steps and formations. Dances (of which there are over 13,000) are made up of these formations so a good grounding will give you the ability to learn a new dance fairly quickly. SCD has its HQ in Scotland and is known as the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society (RSCDS) and there is a Vancouver Branch of the RSCDS under which there are many clubs throughout the Province (there also are Branches in Victoria and Seattle). There are a great many classes and the ones in the Vancouver area are listed below. Come along — check us out — the first night is usually free and thereafter it will average about $6 a night and that’s for a 2 hour class! You will find many friendly people who will be eager to help you and welcome you to their club. You never know you actually might like it!!
Check the list of classes at either at www.vancouverceilidh.org or www.rscdsvancouver.org. Note that the latter website has the latest updates to temporary changes to times and locations
as well there are classes all up and down Vancouver Island, a number of the Gulf Islands, the Cariboo, Okanagan, etc. etc. and there are various groups all over this great Province, Country, World and who knows where else! Check the Branch website for all these details – www.rscdsvancouver.org
Also the Inverary Step Dance class on Wednesdays in the French School, 1555 West 7th Ave., Vancouver- info b_campbell@dccnet.com
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Riddles (answer next week)
Last week:
You throw away the outside and cook the inside. Then you eat the outside and throw away the inside. What did you eat?
Answer: an ear of corn
This week:
I am always hungry,
I must always be fed,
The finger I touch,
Will soon turn red
===========================================================
For upcoming events see www.vancouverceilidh.org and www.rscdsvancouver.org.
Other announcements etc:
Seattle Branch – info at www.rscds-seattle.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next regular monthly Ceilidh Dance will be held on Friday, September 28, 2012 in the Scottish Cultural Centre, 8886 Hudson Street, (73rd & Hudson which is between Oak & Granville), Vancouver, We need everyone to help us get as many new comers (as well as former Ceilidh Dancers) as possible to come and join us.
WE Really NEED YOUR HELP to advertise the Ceilidh Dances!!!! What a nice thoughtful gift it could be if you gave your friends admission to the Ceilidh Dance. They don’t need to know it only costs $10 – it is worth so much more in fun, exercise and camaraderie. Use any access to free adverts etc. You can also use things like the Youtube link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh2HV3OPBgw or the Face-book page https://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=116203315&k=Z5C5Y4TZPT6G6BD1PKZZTWQQQ6BAW26L34AV&oid=164741310207760 Suggestions to improve our advertising are always welcome. Don’t forget to tell them about the website www.vancouverceilidh.org and get them to “subscribe” to the newsletter.
The cost is still the amazingly low price of $10 or $8 for students and we provide refreshments although we do ask for your donations towards their cost. We always need your support both by coming along and by helping us to advertise these dances by whatever means you use to communicate with your friends be it e-mail, Face-Book, Twitter, Text or even telephone! Most of you have been to at least one Ceilidh Dance so you know how it goes. You don’t need a partner; you don’t need any experience; you should wear FLAT soft soled shoes; we walk, talk, and call every dance and you should come to have fun and have a good evening on exercise and entertainment and maybe even to learn!
There is a FREE class from 7 — 8 p.m. and the dance from 8 — 11 p.m. with music by Calanais. Remember to bring some extra cash so you can make a donation towards the cost of the refreshments. Without these donations we will have to increase the price of admission again!!
The schedule for the 2012/13 season shapes up as follows:
All on Fridays of course —
September 28
October 19
November 30
2013
January 4
February 1
February 22
March 22
April 26
Come along and get some great exercise while also having lots of fun. We are still working on improving the strength of the smile muscles as well as the bows and curtsies! Please do your best to assist us in letting as many people know as possible. Use Face-book, e-mail, telephone or even word of mouth and tell everyone you know what a fun night it is. We need to attract students from UBC, SFU and all the other colleges and universities. Somehow we have to get word out to these students. Please do all you can to help us. Come one, come all to the same place (Scottish Cultural Centre, 8886 Hudson Street, Vancouver) and the same time (7 p.m. for the class and 8 – 11 p.m. for the dance) and the same amazing price ($10 or $8 for students.)
You should check the website – www.vancouverceilidh.org – from time to time as you can find various pages listing “Ceilidhs and Events;” Classes:” Duncan’s List;” etc. On these pages you can check all the upcoming events, where all the classes are located, times, etc. and some places to find Scottish things or some local trades, etc. I will continue to highlight the more current events in each week’s newsletter but, as stated, the calendar of all events will be available on the website. You should also have a look at the Vancouver Branch website from time to time – www.rscdsvancouver.org – as there is always useful information on it and it is a very good looking site.
If you have any questions regarding the Ceilidh Dances send them to me at ceilidh@rscdsvancouver.org
Please check the website – www.rscdsvancouver.org for updates, pictures and news.
Dance — it is good for your health.
“Smoking kills. If you’re killed, you’ve lost a very important part of your life,”
— Brooke Shields, during an interview to become spokesperson for federal anti-smoking campaign.
Keep sending jokes, pictures and info you wish to have included. Don’t forget to look at our web pages at www.vancouverceilidh.org
Stac Pollaidh
If you know of anyone who would like to be on the mailing list please send them the web address – www.vancouverceilidh.org and ask them to subscribe. If anyone has good pictures from the Ceilidh Dances please send them to me so I can put them on the web page.
If you have any announcements please send them to me preferably in Word; Times New Roman 12pt format with a layout similar to the one used in this newsletter. I occasionally hear of an event somewhere in our beautiful Province, on the Island or in the Interior, but don’t know all the details. This newsletter reaches out to some 374 subscribers (down 1!) from all over the Province, Country and to many other countries as well, so please send me the details of your event and I will only be too happy to include them. Note- I normally compose the newsletters on Sundays.
Thanks hope to see you at class, the Ceilidh dance on the 28th or somewhere nice. Enjoy yourselves – come Scottish Country Dancing – for it is good for your health and you never know you just might …..!
Staffin
Duncan ceilidh@rscdsvancouver.org