Scottish Country Dance

Photo courtesy of Darwin Scottish Country Dance
Photo courtesy of Dundee University Students Association

Scottish country dancing is a modern form of the “country dancing” popular in England and Scotland in the 18th century. It is done with a partner (usually changed for each dance) in groups of 6 to 10 people (a “set”) dancing to the driving strains of reels, jigs and strathspeys played on the fiddle, accordion, flute, piano, drums, etc. (no bagpipes, mostly!). It’s a very social form of dancing because you get to dance with seven or so people at once instead of just with one partner. Smiles and eye contact are encouraged!

Many of these dances derive from traditional sources such as old manuscripts and printed dance collections, but a lot have been devised in the past fifty years or so. This fusion of the traditional and the modern as well as its ongoing evolution are part of the attraction of Scottish country dancing. The structure and formations are similar to English country dancing, Contra dancing, and American square dancing, but the music is different and the footwork much more vigorous and detailed. It has many of the same dances as Scottish ceilidh dancing but has a much bigger repertoire and focuses mainly on “set” dances rather than dances done as just a couple. (Information courtesy of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society and Wikipedia.)

Scottish Country dancing practice is held in Eugene most Wednesday evenings. Please contact us at scottishdance@eugenefolklore.org for information and location of practice.

Photo courtesy of Royal Scottish Country Dance Society