The Ghillies Gazette - Autumn 2003

The President's Pen

A couple of weeks ago I had a call from Pam Mohamed of the International Hospitality Council of Austin saying that Mr. Brian Taylor, Political Editor, BBC Scotland would be in town and would like to visit with people in the “Scottish community”. As it turns out, he was here the evening of our social on July 11 so I invited him to come along. He was pleasant to visit with and seemed to enjoy himself. We added a Dashing White Sergeant to the dance program for the evening and everyone got a big kick out of “dashing” from one end of the room to the other to begin the next round. We were glad to have Sandy and Una Taylor dance with us as well as the folks who had just returned from New Guinea. Katie Winkley’s pictures are very interesting—ask her to show them to you.

Mid August - Torf, Shelley, Wade, Nathan and I had a wonderful reunion with Linda Mae Dennis at TAC Summer School a couple of weeks ago. TAC Summer School is for dancers of all levels from all over the world to come together for a fabulous week of dancing, partying, socializing and just generally having a good time. The ceilidh was great fun. Torf has a video so ask him to show you highlights of “best acts”—obviously those in which Austin people participated! Nathan went as the Bob Blackie Scholarship winner and was a real credit to SCD in Austin. We can all tell you great tales about the week, but I strongly encourage all of you to attend next year so you can become the storytellers.

Thanks to Anne Marshall, Louisa and Ward Keeler and Wade Harper for braving the heat to attend the social on August 9. Because we were so few, I took the opportunity to change to program to accommodate having only six people. We danced a program of 2-couple dances, most of which were not familiar to those present. Louisa’s eyes were open wide with all the new dances, but she danced like a veteran. I think all had a good time and I enjoyed the opportunity to dance some dances we’ve never done before. It makes me want to have some evenings where the goal is to dance through some of the MANY new dances we brought home. Anybody interested?????

Mid September — In late August a set of teen girls danced beautifully at the Summit Retirement Center. It was a first demo for a couple of them, but you’d never have known it. Only a few times did I see slightly petrified looks, but their dancing didn’t reflect anything but knowing exactly what they were doing.

We helped Heatherwilde Assisted Living Center in Pflugerville celebrate “Assisted Living Week” the first part of September. Dancing at assisted living and nursing homes is a great way for us, as dancers, to give back to our community in a small way. I hope more of you will express an interest in participating in this kind of activity. I’m sure we can find places to dance if you’re interested.

Our in-class socials are working well. It’s great to have so many people willing to take responsibility for putting the programs together and being MC for the evening. Torf has been putting together a CD of the music for each evening, and since he would like to dance at the socials, he plans to let the MC take charge of running the music machine for the evening. We are greatly indebted to Torf for all the work he does with the music. Thanks, Torf.

Late September - plans for the St. Andrews ball are coming along. We already have two registrations, and we haven’t even sent out registration forms yet! Be thinking about what you would like to do to make the event a success. Everyone is busy, but if we all do a little, no one has to do a lot!

Sarah

Demo Team News

Heatherwilde Assisted Living Center

Andrea Blumentritt

The Summit at Westlake Hills Retirement Community

The music started to engulf us and we were no longer nervous, because the music guided us. We were no longer dancing for an audience of man, but one of heaven. We were no longer dancing to music, but to a joyful song being sung over us.

A minute later the music came to an end and the room erupted in applause. We knew that any mistakes we had made were complete missed by the audience. The evening went on and we danced til our feet hurt and our faces were stretched into permanent grins. At last came the compliments. As we were told what a wonderful job we did, we all felt a deep satisfaction with the way we had danced. The demo was over, but the delight of the evening would never fade.

Amanda Barney

Swan Song

I first entered the studio and was greeted by a teacher wearing a kilt which I didn't' expect at all. I guess you could say that it startled me at first, for I had never seen anyone wearing a kilt before, except in the movies. It wasn't long before the class started and he had me dancing with the others, giving a few instructions on how do the steps. And off I went, about the room with the others, happily surprised that the footwork was so simple compared to tap-dancing. Then there were the different formations that I had to learn, but those didn't seem to give me much trouble. When the class was over, and I hopped into the van with my mom, I knew I had found something that would "keep me on my toes" for a while.

As I continued to dance, I learned the Pas-De-Basque step and how to travel with it, and also strathspey step. I couldn't say that I was graceful with these things in the beginning, but all beginners aren't. (And if they are, there is something uncanny about them.) But through the patient teaching of the instructors, I was soon able to do the steps with ease, and much to my satisfaction. I also enjoyed trying to teach my cousins how to dance, and it was there that I learned how much patients my teachers must have had with the class.

Two years quickly flew as I persisted to dance. I enjoyed being part of the demo teams that would perform in various areas. I enjoyed the Balls that would come around, to see the ladies in their fancy dresses, and the gentlemen in their white shirts and plaid kilts. And to see the lines of dancing during those balls was absolutely amazing. It looked ever so wonderful to have everyone dressed up for the special occasions. I enjoyed the socials that would be held at Torf and Sarah's house, where a group of us would get together and dance just for the fun of dancing. But what I enjoyed most, was the people.

It was in the people that I found most of my enjoyment, to see them smile and have a good time while dancing. It was a great satisfaction to get my comrades to smile or laugh while we danced in demos at the capital or any other such place where there was an audience, for I could see that they were nervous and needed a good laugh.

And now that I'm leaving, for a while at least, that is the part I will miss most. It is hard to say farewell (however temporary,) to a group in which you have laughed and learned with for so long; for now I will always know how to dance, but it is hard to dance by yourself. Thank you Torf, for the many lessons on Scotland that I have learned, and also for the precision that you taught in the footwork. Thank you Wade, for keeping me smiling as you taught your class, and hummed to a tune. Thank you Tim and Sarah, for teaching the class in the way that you did, and also laughing with us. I appreciate the patients that you all had.

And to you beginners, I want to say that as far as I know, you will not find a dancing class that is more fun, more entertaining, and filled with laughter as this one. The times that I had here were wonderful, mainly because of the people. Keep dancing, for it will "keep you on your toes."

I bid you all farewell, and may GOD keep you in HIS paths through out your life's journey, as HE is doing for me.

Kathleen Erickson McFerren (Katgurl)

Scottish Dancers

Amanda Barney

Announcements

27^th Annual St. Andrews Ball

Dance Socials

In Class Socials

Volunteers are:
October 28 - Sharon Breen and Sharon Starrett
November 25 - Marty Livingston

Months with no volunteer will be class as usual

Here are some guidelines to use in preparing a social program:

1. Program should be about 12 dances long with a balance of jigs, reels and strathspeys
2. Include the dance(s) of the month
3. Repeat about 1/3 (or more) of the dances from last month
4. Have program available for publication on the web page by the first of the month

1. Friday night social programs
2. Upcoming socials and balls in other cities
3. Texas 100
4. Torf has a list of dances danced in class and will help with the music

Dances of the Month

• October
• Level 1c - EH3 7AF
• Levels 2&3 - Whistling Wind
• November
• Level 1c - Ladies' Fancy
• Levels 2&3 - Wisp of Thistle
• December
• Levels 1c - No Dance of the Month for December.
• Level 2&3 - No Dance of the Month for December.

News from Around the State and Country

San Antonio

San Antonio's own Bluebonnet Ball is scheduled for April 3, 2004 and will feature Chris Peterson for a return visit to play fiddle for us. The Ball will be held at Our Lady of the Lake University Cultural Center.

If you are interested in attending our Sunday afternoon lessons, please contact Pam Keith at 830-980-7913. We meet at the OLLU Cultural Center every Sunday from 3-6 p.m.

Houston

Scottish Country Dancing and More - Houston Texas
We dance Wednesdays, 7 to 10 p.m.
New Dancers Welcome - No Partners Needed - No Prior Experience Needed
Families welcome (children must be accompanied by parent/guardian). $5 for those 14 and over; $2.50 those under 14; $15 maximum per family.
Location: Oddfellows Hall, 115 E. 14th St. (Heights), Houston, Texas
website: home.att.net/~diannashipman
Dianna Shipman 713 522 1212
and to subscribe to the email newsletter: diannashipman@att.net.

New York

Sally Freedman,
Corresponding Secretary
RSCDS New York Branch
info@rscdsnewyork.org.

Events

Current and upcoming events are listed in the ASCDS Calendar. If you have events you want publicized, send them in an e-mail to Roger LaPrelle.

The Austin SCD E-mail Group

You can join the eGroup to receive email message announcements of interest to SCDers in the Austin area by sending an email message to AustinSCD-subscribe@yahoogroups.com from the email address at which you want to receive announcements.

The Ghillies Gazette

The Ghillies Gazette is e-mailed to students enrolled in ASCDS sponsored dance classed, SCD teachers, SCD organization contacts in Texas, and newsletter editors of nonprofit organizations that provide a reciprocal newsletter. If you fall into one of these categories and are not receiving the newsletter, please contact Roger LaPrelle.