A perfect introduction to the world of Scottish dance written by the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, including a short history of Scottish dancing. The book takes you through simple ceilidh moves to more complex formations and set dances, illustrated through diagrams and photos.
In the mid-nineteenth century Joseph Lowe, dancing master of Edinburgh, taught at Queen Victoria's Court, in autumn at Balmoral and Christmas time at Windsor. The Journal is an account of these visits - of Queen Victoria practicing her Scotch steps for the Reel, of Princess Alice who danced a fetching Spanish solo, of Prince Alfred who was talented on the violin, of the Princess who turned her foot inwards while dancing, of the spirited Lady-in-Waiting who begged for extra lessons, of the children's chest expander exercises, and of how many trout Mr. Lowe caught when he took the Prince of Wales fishing. Concerts are held, balls last far into the night; the musical and dance life of the court is glimpsed through a myriad of Lowe's comments (always discreet), and a cheerful family life is portrayed. After the Prince Consort's untimely death, Mr. Lowe no longer attends the court. Archives at Windsor Castle reveal that two of his daughters continued to teach there for a decade but no journal of the period has been traced to the family collection which contains the original Lowe manuscript.
Say goodbye to squashed feet, sore toes and dizzy heads with Scottish Ceilidh Dancing. Guiding you through intricate dance steps and various hand holds in simple, straightforward language, this book introduces you to the exuberant world of the Dashing White Sergeant, the Gay Gordons, the Gypsy Tap and the Lucky Seven, to name but a few. All your old favourites are here and, with over fifty dances, there's something for everyone, from the simple routines of the Dinkie One-Step, to the more adventurous Southern Rose Waltz and the Posties Jig.
This is a book of dancing around the world written for all children and their grandparents, filled with wit and humor, interspersing dances with personal stories, jokes and home-spun lessons from life - enlivened with word pictures of St Andrews, of beautiful Scotland, of kilts and haggis. Robin Poulton celebrates the worldwide friendship of dancers, offering a philosophy of life that promotes "the greatest happiness to the greatest number" through peace and love and dancing. Read and enjoy!
What country is made up of 95 islands, invented the game of golf, and raised a warrior worthy of the name "Braveheart"? Welcome to Scotland! In B is for Bagpipes: A Scotland Alphabet, Scottish native Eve Begley Kiehm gives an A-Z tour of the country that may be small in size but a giant in history and rich in tradition. Kick up your heels at a Highland dance, visit the statue of Greyfriar's Bobby as he stands guard near his master's grave, and finally dig into a dish of haggis with a side helping of "tatties and neeps." From the splendors of capital city Edinburgh to the stories of Robert Louis Stevenson to the gloomy waters of Loch Ness and its lonely "Nessie," the treasures of Scotland are revealed. Colorful artwork captures the proud spirit of its landscape and culture.Eve Begley Kiehm was born in Bridge of Allan, Scotland. She has a master's degree in Scottish History and Literature from Glasgow University and an early childhood education certification from the University of Toronto. Her books about Scotland include a YA historical adventure novel. Eve lives in the San Diego area. Alexa Rutherford lives in Edinburgh, Scotland. She has illustrated many books for UK publishers and a handful of US publishers, as well as US children's magazines.
The enthusiasm with which Scottish gatherings all over the world welcome the strains of a Reel tune or a stately Strathspey is no less marked today than it was in the eighteenth century, when an English visitor to an Edinburgh ballroom noted, 'The moment one of these tunes is played, up they start, and you would imagine they had been bit by a tarantula.' Some of the dwindling antique treasure of music and dance is now being recovered, including such dances as the weird 'Carlin of the Mill Dust' and the fascinating 'Hebridean Weaving Lilt' from the Isles. More commonly known are the highland step-dances and the country dances; step-notation and music for four of these are provided in this book. Also included is a bibliography for further study, and four colour-plates showing authentic costumes. Miss Milligan, one of the founders of the Scottish Country Dance Society, played a leading part in the preservation and teaching of Scottish dances. Mr. MacLennan, renowned as an expert of Highland dancing, made a lifelong study of Scottish dances, bringing to light many not hitherto generally known.
