MEMBERSHIP 2009-2010

If your Branch membership has lapsed during previous years or you have not renewed your membership from last year, please get in touch to rejoin. We can only sustain a full programme of dances and classes by having a strong membership base. Even if you are not doing much dancing at present for some reason, your continuing support will be much appreciated.

See the Membership and Contact Us pages for fill details.

2009 Dance Devising Competition Results

The winner of the 2009 competition for devising a new dance is Mr George Watt, for his entry Remembering Miss Cameron. The competition attracted an impressive number of entries, with some members submitting several dances.  We are grateful to Mr Bruce Frazer of the St Andrews Branch for acting as the judge on this occasion. The winning dance is a 4 x 32 strathspey, and George (our immediate past-Chairman)  said of Miss Cameron "She taught me dancing in the 1950s and was a beautiful lady and a beautiful dancer". The trophy, a quaich gifted by the Dundee Accordion Band, was presented to George by Vice-Chairman Helen Lawrenson during the fourth of our summer dances on Monday 30th June 2009.

(10/07/09)

Homecoming Dance, 4th October 2009

(a longer report will appear for members in the next edition of The Reel)

This branch dance certainly lived up to its name!  A remarkable 40% of those attending were visitors from Canada, in Scotland for a two-week holiday. Members of the Highlands of Durham Scottish Country Dance Club last visited us two years ago and had such an enjoyable evening then, that they had made Dundee a must for their current tour of the country. Our dance was the only one organised by an RSCDS Branch that they planned to attend, but with characteristic exuberance they had done some spontaneous dancing as a group throughout Scotland at various historic sites.

 At the end of the first half, a team from the Branch Youth Performance Group gave us a demonstration of Eileen Watt’s Reel to considerable applause.

 In thanking those who had worked so hard to make the evening a success, Helen Lawrenson expressed her delight that the first dance of her chairmanship had attracted such a large participation.

(8/10/09)

Bequest to the Branch

The Branch has recently been fortunate to receive a donation of £560 under the will of a former member, Willie Syme. Many will remember Willie, who was an enthusiastic supporter of Branch dances over many years, together with his wife Dorothy. Latterly, Dorothy was confined to a wheel chair, but this did not prevent her from accompanying Willie to most of our events. The bequest represents Willie's thanks for all those happy evenings in a very constructive way. Willie died some time ago, but it is only now that his wishes regarding the Branch could be put into effect by his executors. We must thank Alice Mann and Shirley Mackie, in particular, for acting as the first point of contact with the solicitors.

(28/10/09)

Family Fun Night (Sat 21 Nov 09)

A very good time was had by all who came to the Family Fun Night. Stella Phillips presided over an excellent programme of suitably straightforward dances and Helen Lawrenson galvanised us into action during the two games spots. The refreshments were a popular item, especially with the children, and arrived in several mysterious boxes brought by Catherine Esler. Scott Band kept our feet tapping throughout the evening. Thanks go to Kathleen Reid as youth Co-ordinator. A number of the children had come last year and it was good to see that many arrived with parents/grandparents. Support was down from last year, however, with a disappointing turnout from our own children's and teenage classes.

(23/11/42)