Step Dancing in Scotland (Read a Research Paper)

This intriguing paper appears on the academic networking site, Academia.edu - it's by Mats Melin and was published by the Elphinstone Institute:- 

'Putting the dirt back in” - an investigation of step dancing in Scotland

Author: Mats Melin 

Researchers will probably be aware that there are a variety of social media networking sites where scholars can share details of their publications and research activities, and engage in useful discussion with people at other institutions.  Academia.edu and ResearchGate.net are just two of them.  Publishers like Sage and Emerald also try to encourage a sense of community amongst their scholarly authors.

It's fair to say that some people aren't keen on Academia and ResearchGate because the statistical information could be used for commercial purposes.  Nonetheless, as you see, these websites are useful to supplement what individuals post on their institutional repositories or personal websites, because of the networking angle!

How old ARE Strathspeys and Reels?

If you don't mind coming in halfway through an ongoing discussion, you may find this paper of interest.  Michael Newton (University of North Carolina) continues a debate with Will Lamb (University of Edinburgh) about the origins of the strathspey and reel as dance and musical forms.
Read it here on Michael's Academia.edu page.

Keeping it Reel: the Origins of the Reel in a Scottish Gaelic Context, by Dr Michael Newton

Scottish Country Dance Database - could be useful!

We found this the other day:-

Scottish Country Dance Database

http://my.strathspey.org/dd/index/

 

 

This database looks potentially useful for anyone involved in the Scottish country dance scene.  Quoting from their homepage ...

 

"Overview

"This database aims to be a comprehensive resource for Scottish country dancers, dance teachers, and musicians. It brings together information on Scottish country dances, formations, musical recordings, Scottish country dance tunes, and the people behind all of those – all conveniently linked together for easy perusal.
"The database builds on the efforts of many people. Keith Napier and Peter Hastings pioneered the idea of indexing Scottish country dances and music. Alan Paterson started the project behind this database, compiling a very large repository of data and making it available to everybody. Eric Ferguson and Charles Upton, among others, have contributed cribs for dances. This web-based version was written by Anselm Lingnau, who is also hosting it on his server. Countless volunteers have helped organise, improve, and correct the data – an ongoing effort."  

 

Awesome! How Teens Learned to Dance

Times Digital Archive Available to Scottish Performing Arts Students

 We've just subscribed to a great new e-resource - the whole Times newspaper archive from 1785-2008.  What's it useful for?  It's only limited by your imagination!

For example, you could read a book review to see if a book's worth reading!  We don't have "Renaissance Theatre Costume" in stock, but we could always try to obtain it ...
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You could find historical info, like the story of the Scottish National Theatre.  Or read concert reviews - maybe trace the first performance of a piece. Or find out how your ancestors learned social dancing.  In 1801, your mum might've contacted these guys via the small ads!

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We are the Whittaker Library at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.  Here to help our performing artists source information for their teaching and learning needs.

Scottish Country Dancing - if Jean Milligan only knew!

RSCDS

The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society was founded in 1923 by Jean Milligan, the first dance teacher at Jordanhill teacher training college, and Mrs Stewart of Fasnacloich.  (As it happens, 'Whittaker's' mother-in-law Peggy McAulay (nee Fife) was Jean Milligan's first pianist at Jordanhill during her time as a student there ...)

If Jean Milligan only knew!  Her society has grown and prospered, and spawned branches worldwide.  The Whittaker Library has dozens and dozens of Scottish country dance tune-books, from St Andrews, Edinburgh, Carlisle and the Borders, Leeds, Birmingham, even New Zealand!  We haven't got every book of dance tunes ever published, but it felt like it today when we were updating our catalogue!  Old ones and newer collections - they're all represented.


Take a look here.

What makes a Scottish country dance tune? Some are from old fiddle tune-books.  Some have been written in a similar style by modern Scots or other Scottish country dance musicians, worldwide.  Does it have to be Scottish to be a Scottish country dance tune, then?  We would say, not necessarily!

Here's another mind-boggling thought: just imagine if you totted up the hours that our books have spent being played at ceilidhs worldwide, since they were published.  And then, how many dancers have been accompanied by pianists playing from those books ... not to mention, how many cups of teas were served between dances ...!

Dance Base - Scottish Country Dancing Workshops this Weekend

Edinburgh Dance Base Workshops - find out more here.

"This event is part of Tradfest, a new festival inspired by the traditional arts of Scotland."

Whittaker has an indirect connection with the RSCDS, for "his" late mother-in-law had a scroll of honour from that esteemed body. Sadly, the left-handed "Whittaker" has two left feet  ...

The purpose of a musical score?

Now, before you say a word, naturally the score enables you to perform a piece of music!

'Whittaker' found an intriguing score in a donation today:-

Kerr's Modern Dance Album for the Pianoforte

Published by James S. Kerr, it was a local work - the music publisher was located at 314 Paisley Road, Glasgow.  (The shop is in the streets between Govan Road at Festival Park, and the M8 motorway.)  It contained Eightsome reels, Highland Schottisches, and various other Scottish dances.

 All well and good, you might say. But here's the best bit: a caption along the top of the cover:-

"N.B. - If the Music in this Book is played according to the Instructions the Dances and the Music will finish at the same time."

Kerr's Modern Dance Album

Now, wouldn't you say that was eminently practical?!  No claims to be Urtext, no mention of the tune origins, but sensible instructions along the lines of, 'Play 5 times and first 8 bars to finish'; or, 'A Strathspey and Reel of Tulloch is often danced after the Eightsome Reel.  If the dancers remain in position play a long chord then Strathspey  3 times and Reel of Tulloch 8 times as given on page 5.'

(Oh, and I made an interesting discovery.  We are not the first Conservatoire in Scotland! There's a testimonial from Julius Seligmann, Principal of The Glasgow and West of Scotland Conservatoire of Music, at 8 Alfred Terrace, Hillhead, Glasgow - Just off Great Western Road.  I consulted Googlemaps for you!)

Scottish country dancing

Issue 52 of Dance On! has just arrived.

Pia Walker's article, 'Do you want more dancers?' prompts me to pass on a couple of websites:-

• www.clubbz.com - an index of clubs and societies.  Could be useful if you're looking for organisations who might offer you a gig!
• www.areyoudancing.com - dance events listings
• www.danceon.eu is Dance On's own website.  Not quite up-to-date, but you may find it useful for contact details, etc.