RSCDS Glasgow Branch is involved with activities to encourage both children and young adults to enjoy Scottish Country Dancing.  Branch members are happy to provide advice and help.  Some of these activites are described, with some photos in the gallery below.

Glasgow Music Festival   

aims to provide 'a platform for performance' by enabling teams from schools and adult groups from in and around Glasgow to compete and receive adjudication on their Scottish Country Dancing performances. This is an annual event. The 2023 Festival included  Scottish Country Dancing  events on Saturday 11th March - see News Story for a report. Everyone is welcome to come along to support the local teams. Watch this space for information about 2024 Festival.
Adult entry tickets cost £5.  The event is held in the Blythswood Hall , Renfield St Stephen`s Church, Bath St, Glasgow. Further information can be found at susan@glasgowmusicfestival.org

Resources for teachers
The RSCDS HQ has a complete pack of Jigs and Reels as a CPD resource for teachers, with DVD, available for sale, see www.rscds.org/article/jigs-reels 

The previous event in March 2022 was enjoyed by young dancers and adults, see report and photos below.
 

The Primary Schools 'Glasgow Day of Dance' 

A one day event for Scottish Country Dancing held each year in March.  This is organised jointly by staff from the Glasgow Education PE Department together with a team from RSCDS Glasgow Branch. Unfortunately the events in March 2020 to 2022 were cancelled due to the coronavirus.
Good News: it was back this year on Wed 15 March 2023 with a resounding success. We had Walter Proven as our experienced MC and excellent music from John Carmichael and his band. What a super day to watch the children from the various schools.  There was a buzz of energy and enthusiasm for the dancing, especially the Flying Scotsman Jig and the Dashing White Sergeant. The Chair of RSCDS William Willamson mentioned the world wide SCD community and the children were delighted with the small mascot to hand round (see below - click to enlarge). Thank you to all RSCDS members and Glasgow Education staff who helped make this event happen. 

Background   Some Primary schools in Glasgow have a Scottish Country Dancing activity as part of the Expressive Arts curriculum.  This Day of Dance gives the children an opportunity to display their skills.  Schools which decide to take part are given a resource pack which includes a DVD of the 6 or so dances.  RSCDS teachers may be able to visit and help teachers with the dances, if requested.  There are a number of ways schools may take part in this event – please get in touch if you are interested. 

 

Bearsden & Milngavie Primary Schools Festival

The Bearsden & Milngavie Festival held on 4th October 2019 reached its sixth birthday with around 400 children from Bearsden and Milngavie Primary Schools, dancing the day away. After the opening ceremony, involving Councillor Andrew Polson, local piper Iain Smith led representatives from each school into the hall. John Carmichael and the band then struck up to the beat of Jigs and Reels resonating around the hall accompanying a programme of communal dances such as the Virginia Reel, Dashing White Sergeant, Flying Scotsman etc. and with each school giving a performance of two specialist dances. Events during the Covid years were cancelled.
This community event is initiated by New Kilpatrick Parish Church and organised by Walter Proven and members of the NK SCD Club. The Festival receives financial support from the RSCDS Glasgow Branch, with the current Chairman mentioning how keen we are on encouraging young dancers. 

The event was the culmination of weeks of training within the schools by Walter and other members of his team, who visit all schools.  Most of the children learning completely from scratch the social skills of Scottish Country Dancing.  It was wonderful to see so many happy faces on the day as the youngsters enjoyed taking part in the event!! The children bounced out of the hall at the end of the day with the music still ringing in their ears.