Ceilidh Dance newsletter – next Ceilidh Dance – Friday, September 25, 2026
Summer Isles
Welcome to another season of Ceilidh and Scottish Country dancing. Where did our summer go? It seems to have been a very short summer. After the annual summer explosion in population at our house everything is far too quiet now. The peace and quiet was nice for the first day or so after the last of our family left on Monday but now I am lonely and missing them all. I always find goodbyes hard – Shakespeare wrote “Parting is such sweet sorrow, That I shall say good night till it be morrow.”
We enjoyed a great summer with avalable family the majority of who were able to come and celebrate our 2nd son’s 60th. We had the birthday boy and his 10 year old daughter; our daughter and her two and the youngest, his wife and their two and also the oldest second child plus we had one grandson’s girlfriend. Altogether we had 13 and we were missing 1 son & 3 grandchildren who were unable to come – our son because he was in Belgium with the Canadian Men’s Masters Team at the Masters Championships involving 19 countries – they finished 7th which was excellent considering the opposition.
If anyone has any suggestions or complaints regarding the newsletter please let me know – ceilidh@rscdsvancouver.org ==============================================================
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
– Alex Levine
Dancing in the Park was another great success although it only had 4 nights. We had a great turnout for the last night which was the Ceilidh Night and music was provided by Blackthorn. Hopefully we have managed to recruit a few more dancers to come along and take up this wonderfully enjoyable pasttime.
Check out the list of events on the web page – www.vancouverceilidh.org
NOT SO LONG AGO: Comments made in the year 1955!
When I first started driving, who would have thought gas would someday cost 25 cents a gallon. Guess we’d be better off leaving the car in the garage.
Strathy Beach, Thurso
News from Scotland: You may have heard that the SFU Pipe Band won the World Pipe Band Championships. Congatulations to Simon Fraser Pipe band — very well done – a great accomplishment. Check out this these clips!
Victory Parade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-5o2Qk5JJU
CBC News Spot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-959cODnri4
One of their winning medleys from BBC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=po6ryIIx_xg
Children Are Quick
TEACHER: George Washington not only chopped down his father’s cherry tree, but also admitted it. Now, Louie, do you know why his father didn’t punish him?
LOUIS: Because George still had the axe in his hand….
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Music 1
Threesome Reel Medley Neil Barron RSCDS Book 6
Sunrise over the Cuillins
IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER – by Erma Bombeck
(written after she found out she was dying of cancer).
I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Subject: Watch “British Comedy Sure Know How To Ruin a Police Officer’s Day
https://youtube.com/shorts/pwfP7rz4aoM?si=seM8FZT0FRcMjClP
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Sunset – Loch Crinan
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The next Ceilidh Dance is on Friday, September 25, 2026 – that is the last Friday of the month.
Ceilidh dancing at the Scottish Cultural Centre. Music by Calanais
Bring friends and family, ages 7-97! No experience or partner or kilt required.
Soft shoes and light/layered clothing suggested – you will be active!
Free lesson 7pm-7:45pm (but don’t worry if you miss it – we teach everything again through the evening)
Dancing 8pm to 10:30pm Refreshments included, donations accepted
Admission $20 for adults, $15 for students, under 15 years FREE (debit/credit accepted, cash preferred)
Ticket sales will start at 10am on Monday Sept 21 for the Sept 25 Ceilidh, at https://rscdsvancouver.org/events/vancouver-ceilidh-2026-sep/
We will post at www.rscdsvancouver.org when pre-sale tickets are gone, and on Instagram on the day when we reach capacity.
Event Admission Policy:
Due to high demand and room capacity limits, we’ve set attendance caps to ensure safety and a great experience:
7:00 PM Lesson: Maximum 80 participants
8:00 PM Dance: Maximum 160 participants
Tickets & Entry:
– The first 80 tickets are sold online, max 4 tickets per purchase. These guarantee entry to the 8:00 PM dance, but not necessarily the lesson if 80 people have already arrived and checked in at the door.
– Beginning at 6:45 PM, an additional 80 spots will be available at the door for those without pre-purchased tickets.
– If you arrive after 8:00 PM, entry will be managed on a one-in, one-out basis as space becomes available (for example, some guests leave during the first break around 9:00 PM).
Online Ticket Holders:
– Please arrive by 8:30 PM to redeem your ticket, or your spot may be released.
– Be prepared to show the email from ‘RSCDS Website’ as your proof of purchase.
– If you expect to arrive late, contact us before 4:00 PM using the email shown in your receipt.
– Contact us before 4pm for refund, if you cannot attend, by forwarding your receipt email to the email shown in the message.
The format for all of the regular monthly Ceilidh Dances will be the same with the class from 7 — 7:45 p.m. and the dance from 8 — 11 p.m. and all dances will be walked and talked through. The price is only – $20 or $15 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.
Music 2
Trew Waltz Bobby Brown & Scottish Accent Any Good Dance, Any Good Tune
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 will start up again during the first two or three weeks. 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 www.rscdsvancouver.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 alike to Square Dancing (same Frech source). 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 15,000) 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 are a great many classes and the ones in the Vancouver area are listed www.rscdsvancouver.org. Come along — check us out — the first night is usually free and thereafter it will average about $10 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!!
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
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Music 3
Toms Friends Muriel Johnstone & her Band Haste Ye Back
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For upcoming events see www.vancouverceilidh.org and www.rscdsvancouver.org.
Other announcements etc:
Seattle Branch – info at www.rscds-seattle.org
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Food for thought; when you get a dog, make sure it’s a small dog (har, har, har)…
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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.
VIRUS WARNING
A VIRUS is going round called
HOUSEWORK!!!!
If you feel the need to start housework.
Stop immediately.
This virus wipes out your social life.
If you should come in contact with housework go straight to the nearest store & buy the only known antidote which is called CHOCOLATE.
Please forward this warning immediately to a least 6 friends.
If you realize you do not have 6 friends you may be already infected.
Music 4
1314 or Thirteen Fourteen – Medley – Ian Holmes Highlander 4
Keep sending jokes, pictures and info you wish to have included. Don’t forget to look at our web pages at www.vancouverceilidh.org and sign up for the newsletter – it is free!!
Scremerston Beach Berwick on Tweed
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 370 subscribers (up 2!) 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.
Thanks hope to see you at the next Ceilidh Dance or somewhere nice. Enjoy yourselves – come Scottish Country Dancing – for it is good for your health and you never know you just might …..!
Suilvenbed
May your troubles be one, may your blessings be more,
and may nothing but happiness come through your door.
Duncan MacKenzie
ceilidh@rscdsvancouver.org