cockade Newsletter of the Vancouver Branch Royal Scottish Country Dance Society

Transcription

1 the white cockade Newsletter of the Vancouver Branch Royal Scottish Country Dance Society N O V E M B E R - D E C E M B E R Officers Chair Peter Richards chair@rscdsvancouver.org Vice-chair Heather Hankin vicechair@rscdsvancouver.org Corresponding Secretary Gill Beattie secretary@rscdsvancouver.org Recording Secretary Sally Marshall recordingsecretary@rscdsvancouver.org Treasurer Laurie Johnson treasurer@rscdsvancouver.org Membership Secretary Paul Lowe membership@rscdsvancouver.org Membership Secretary Delegate Patsy Jamieson Past Chair RSCDS Vancouver Branch Board of Directors membershipsecretarydelegate@rscdsvancouver.org Gerry Stensgaard pastchair@rscdsvancouver.org Photo by Katherine Shearman Alan LeFevre & Cathrine Conings at her Significant Birthday Celebration INSIDE THIS ISSUE Frae the Chair...3 Notices, Meet the New Board of Directors...4 Call for Branch Award Nominations...5 Looking for that Perfect Gift...7 Dancing Dates...8 Dancing News & Photos...15 Vancouver Area Calendar of Events Other Directors Archivist Anne Brand archives@rscdsvancouver.org BC Highland Games Representative Hamish Jackson highlandgames@rscdsvancouver.org Children's Program Liaison Francis O'Farrell children@rscdsvancouver.org Events Coordinators Sandra Anderson and Anne Brand Publicity events@rscdsvancouver.org Janet Mason publicity@rscdsvancouver.org Safety Coordinator Anne Brand safety@rscdsvancouver.org The deadline for submissions for the January/February Vancouver Branch Newsletter is December 10th. Due to the print shop closing for the holidays, early submissions would be appreciated. Contact: editor@rscdsvancouver.org. 2

2 Frae the Chair Maybe you are not one to attend the Annual General Meeting of the societies that you belong to. They can be dull affairs with outcomes fairly well determined before they start. If you missed our AGM on the 16th of September, you missed a treat. At the end of the short meeting, the chairs were pushed back and we had a fun photo quiz won appropriately enough by our out-going Chair, Gerry Stensgaard. Then The Tartan Players started up and we had ourselves a dance hosted by Cathrine Conings on the occasion of one of her significant birthdays. It was such a good ending to the AGM that the Board is committed to holding the same event next year. Thank You Cathrine, and many happy returns! This year saw more changes than usual at the Board. Gerry Stensgaard has retired as Chair and I have been appointed Chair for the next two years. Heather Hankin, well known for her diligence in catering the Board events for the past three years becomes the Vice Chair. We bade farewell to Sue Sochasky, Cathrine Conings, and Simon Scott. Patricia Jamieson who has ably handled the Membership portfolio will continue as a Delegate to the Board while Paul Lowe will work with the Database team in Edinburgh to improve the integration of our membership registration system with the new system at headquarters. We are grateful to our retiring and new Board Members for their continuing commitment to Scottish Country Dancing in the Lower Mainland. Without Board Members like these, the organization could not function. Over the summer, all the stars aligned and Gerry Stensgaard and I found ourselves on holiday in Edinburgh on the same day. So we took ourselves to 12 Coates Crescent just off Princes Street. We had the foresight to organise a meeting with the new Executive Officer, Gillian Wilson who warmly welcomed us and then interviewed us for an hour and a half. We had a wide ranging discussion about issues that affect our branch and our fellow societies in the New World. We were the first of many branches who were interviewed as part of the recent Branch consultation on the emerging business plan for This coming focus for the society worldwide is all about strengthening the image and communications as a Society to show a fun, inclusive, professional and well marketed Society. We hope to be able to share our own new branding with you soon, which will complement their strategy. Headquarters also recognises the importance of communicating the value of RSCDS membership and providing better support for branches and, more particularly, to improve member recruitment. Finally, I would be remiss if I did not recognize the Kelowna Scottish Country Dancers Club who have chosen to affiliate with us. They have two teachers and have classes for Beginners on Thursdays and Intermediate Dancers on Tuesdays. I am sure you will get a warm welcome if you drop in when you are visiting the Okanagan. Peter Richards 3 Notices Meet the new Board of Directors A new Branch Board for was elected at the RSCDS Vancouver Branch Annual General Meeting on September 16, Front row left to right - Janet Mason, Sally Marshall, Patsy Jamieson, Francis O Farrell, and Heather Hankin. Back row left to right - Hamish Jackson, Gill Beattie, Sandra Anderson, Peter Richards, Laurie Johnson, and Gerry Stensgaard. Absent from group photo are Anne Brand and Paul Lowe, pictured below. Congratulations all! Group Photo by Kerry McDevitt Individual photos Anne Brand & Paul Lowe My family and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for the numerous cards and messages of condolence on the loss of my husband George. We would also like to thank the many members who attended the Celebration of Life on September 24. We were honoured to see how many lives George touched. Hazel Robb Join us for the Teachers Conference Weekend, AGM and Summer School at the University of British Columbia in beautiful Vancouver, BC. Come Scottish Country Dancing with some of the world s best teachers and music! July, 2017 Visit for details. 4

3 Call for Branch Award Nominations The Vancouver Branch of the RSCDS requests nominations for Branch Awards. Nominees must have given outstanding service to Scottish Country Dancing in the locality of our Branch. They must have contributed to the enjoyment and excellence of Scottish Country Dancing and/or its music at the Branch, in at least one of the following ways: 1. Innovation and/or growth including new programs. 2. Prestige and/or standards of excellence. 3. Significant contribution to the enjoyment of Scottish Country Dancing and the happiness of others. 4. Significant and/or extensive administrative service. 5. Significant financial contribution. More details, including Guidelines & Procedures for Branch Awards, may be viewed on the website Branch Awards page under the About Us tab. Deadline for nominations is November 30, Nominations should be sent to the Branch s Corresponding secretary, either by to: secretary@rscdsvancouver.org, or by post to: Vancouver Branch RSCDS c/o Scottish Cultural Centre 8886 Hudson Street Vancouver, BC, V6P 4N2 Below Vancouver recipient, Tom Read and Seattle recipient, Rosemary Read, were presented their awards by Vancouver Chair, Gerry Stensgaard and Seattle Chair, Leslie Bourgoin. Photo by Sarah Manchanda 2016 Branch Award Recipient Tom Read Vancouver Branch Award Tom Read and his wife Rosemary reside in Bellingham, Washington, but they are seen at many events in and around Vancouver. The couple has a (dancing) foot on each side of the border.tom is a long-time member of the Vancouver Branch, and Rosemary belongs to the Seattle Branch. In their home town of Bellingham, Tom was a mathematics professor at Western Washington University, and knew that the University gave students activity-course credits towards graduation. With his wife Rosemary, a qualified RSCDS teacher, Tom saw an opportunity to promote Scottish country dancing. He persuaded the University to offer Scottish country dancing classes as a physical education option. The dancing classes ran from 1990 to 2013, after which the University decided to discontinue them. Through the years and hundreds of classes, Tom was deeply involved organising and promoting the course, as well as supporting Rosemary in her teaching role. The outcome of Tom and Rosemary s efforts was the creation of a large group of young, enthusiastic dancers, many of whom continue to enjoy Scottish country dancing even as their lives have taken them to other cities and countries as far-flung as Ireland and South Korea. For a period, students of the class formed their own SCD club at the University, and as many as 60 students would attend joint Ceilidhs with the Bellingham SCD club. For Tom s contributions to Scottish country dancing, he was nominated by several Vancouver Branch members for a Branch Award. This honour was approved by the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, and the Award document was duly sent out by Headquarters. Coincidentally with the acquisition of Tom s award, the Seattle Branch went about obtaining a Branch Award for Rosemary. The process culminated with presentation of the awards to the deserving couple at the intermission of the Saturday evening Ball at the Fort Worden Scottish Country Dance Weekend. Tom s award was presented by Gerry Stensgaard, Chair of the Vancouver Branch, while Rosemary received hers from Leslie Bourgoin, Chair of the Seattle Branch. The presentations were accompanied by much applause from the floor. It was a lovely way to recognize and honour the contribution that this dynamic dancing-duo has made to Scottish country dancing in the Pacific Northwest. Gerry Stensgaard Branch awards are made to well-sung and unsung heroes who have contributed to the Branch beyond the the ordinary call of duty. See our website Branch Awards page for full details of all past recipients. 5 6

4 Looking for that perfect gift heather ball 2017 The Golden Anniversary Collection, now in its second printing, has proven popular world wide. A great gift for your dancing friends or host clubs if you are travelling this holiday season. 12 wonderful dances devised by 12 clever Vancouver Dancers - something for everyone. $10 Contact: Frances Caruth at dancing@rscdsvancouver.org or Mary Ann McDevitt at editor@rscdsvancouver.org Rosemary Coupe s detailed history of Scottish Country Dancing in Vancouver from 1930 to date is a great read. The well illustrated photographs will keep you coming back, whether a dancer or non-dancer. This is a book to show your family and friends what this Scottish Country dancing is all about. While it will not be ready for Christmas as it is now sold out, it is a great gift anytime. A third printing will depend on demand. $20 Contact: Rosemary Coupe at rcoupe@shaw.ca Everyone will enjoy the ever popular Vancouver Branch Burns Supper, January 21, The annual celebration of the life and works of Robert Burns includes a traditional Scottish meal, great music, entertainment and dancing. $55 Contact Mary Anne Mackay at: burns@rscdsvancouver.org Your spouse or dancing friend will be delighted with one or both of these gifts under the tree. Dance to the fabulous music of Luke Brady s Scottish Dance Band at the Heather Ball on March 18th. Relax at the Luke Brady Concert on March 19th, and listen to a variety of music that inspires this superb accordionist. Ball $80 - Concert $20 - Combination ticket $95 Contact: Frances Caruth at dancing@rscdsvancouver.org or Mary Ann McDevitt at editor@rscdsvancouver.org Saturdays, November 5, 12 & 19 LADIES STEP DANCE CLASSES Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Centre - 1:00 to 3:00 pm Session $ Selkirk Street (one block from the Scottish Cultural Centre) SESSION TWO of the Scottish Soft Shoe Ladies Step Dance classes starts on November 5th. Dancers should have some previous experience as this is an intermediate class. If you are interested and would like try it, let me know. Fabulous live music for all classes! Kay Sutherland or kay_sutherland@hotmail.com Cranachan, the Ladies Step Dance Performance Group, performed at the Studio Theatre, Shadbolt Centre on Saturday, September 10th as part of the 2016 Canada Korea Literary Festival. Photo courtesy of Patsy Jamieson Friday, November 11 Dancing dates LADY ABERDEEN TEA DANCE Scottish Cultural Centre - 1:15 pm Adults $10 - Children $5 The Fort Langley Scottish Country Dance Club is proud to be hosting this year s popular Tea Dance held on Armistice Day Proceeds will be donated to the TB Vets and the Heart & Stroke Foundation. See the September newsletter for the programme. The programme and dance notes may also be found on the website. We look forward to seeing everyone there. A donation of a plate of food would be most welcome. Saturday, November 12 VANCOUVER FIDDLE ORCHESTRA CONCERT Highlands United Church, North Vancouver - 7:30 pm $15 An evening of lively music by the Vancouver Fiddle Orchestra, dance performances by the RSDCS Vancouver Demonstration Team & Shot of Scotch, Ceilidh dancing and more. For tickets contact: churchoffice@highlandsunited.org or or Cathrine Conings at ccmusic@telus.net or any VFO member or at the door while tickets last! 8

5 Friday, November 25 Scottish Cultural Centre - 7:00 pm Saturday, November 26 VANCOUVER CEILIDH DANCE $12 ($10 Students) Class is from 7-8 and the dance from Music is provided by our band Calanais. All steps are taught and no partner or previous experience required. More Ceilidh dances are scheduled for Fridays - January 13th, February 24th, March 31st, and April 28th. DELTA BORDERERS FALL DANCE Kinsmen Centre, th Ave, Tsawwassen - 3:00 pm $25 The Delta Borderers have exciting news! We have changed the time of our November dance in order to accommodate those dancers who would prefer not to travel during the later evening hours. We hope this will encourage you to come and dance with us once again and we would like to invite you to another special musical experience with Donald Bartlett - a well known pianist from Toronto. For the past three years Donald has inspired everyone with his music and talent, and we are looking forward to more of the same this year. For tickets contact: Mairi Maxwell or Ruth Jappy We hope you will join us to dance - listen - enjoy! Highland Fair...J...Graded Book There s Something about Thirty...S...Book 50 Memory Lane...R...G. MacKinnon Leaflet The Bramble Bush...J...Book 25 Barbara s Strathspey...S...Book 46 Milton s Welcome...R...Book 33 Joie De Vivre...J...Book 39 The Trysting Place...S...Book 35 A Wee Doc & Doris...R...T.A.C. Laurel Collection *********** Rodney s Rant...J...RSCDS Diamond Jubilee Fair Donald...S...Book 29 Davy Nick Nack...R...Glasgow Assembly Shadow...J...Book 50 The Minister on the Loch...S...24 Graded & Social, Goldring Maxwell s Rant...R...Book 18 Tuesday, November 29 FORT LANGLEY ST. ANDREW S DANCE 9167 Glover Road, Fort Langley - 7:30 pm $15 The Fort Langley Scottish Country Dancers are once again proud to have the amazing Mary Ross join us for another fun evening of music and dance in the historic Langley Hall. We hope you can join us to celebrate our November St. Andrew s Social. Blue Bonnets...J...Book 3 The Camp of Pleasure...S...Book 15 Shiftin Bobbins...R...R. Clowes, Ormskirk 6 EH3 7AF...J...Book 40 Fair Donald...S...Book 29 My Mother s Coming In...R...Book 15 Airie Bennan...J...Foss, Glendarroch Jean Martin of Aberdeen...S...3 Dances for 2008 John of Bon Accord...R...Book 33 A Capital Jig...J...5 Dances for 2009 Matilda is a Delight...S...Book 50 The Reel of the 51st...J...Book 13 Saturday, December 3 CHILDREN S & FAMILY CHRISTMAS PARTY Capilano Room, Harry Jerome Memorial Centre 123 East 23rd St., North Vancouver - 2:00 pm Children Free - Adults $5 Bring along your whole family for a fun filled afternoon of dancing, treats and a special visit from Santa & Mrs. Claus. For more information call Louise at or check the website. Hope to see you at the party! The Hospitality Circle (Jig 32 Round the Room) Virginia Reel (Reel 4x40) Flying Scotsman (Jig 8x32) The Bramble Circle (Reel 32 Circle Dance) Terrace Loggers Jig (Jig 4x32) Haymakers Jig (Jig 4x48) 12 Coates Crescent (Strathspey 4x32) De il Amang the Tailors (Reel 8x32) Bairns Reel (Reel 24 bars) 9 10

6 Saturday, December 10 A CELTIC CHRISTMAS IN KERRISDALE Kerrisdale Community Centre, Seniors Bldg. - 2:00 pm Admission Free Inverglen Scottish Dancers Present A Celtic Christmas in Kerrisdale Red & White Wine Raffle with proceeds to the Dancers Fund We hope to see you there! Sunday, December 11 GLENEAGLES BALL Fairmont Hotel Vancouver - 1:30 pm $110 Gleneagles cordially invites you to join us, and many friends, in the beautiful Pacific Ballroom for our 53rd Annual Ball. As always, enjoy a welcome reception, delicious luncheon buffet, dancing to the delightful music of the Vancouver Fiddle Orchestra, and the always eagerly anticipated desserts buffet. See the website Events Calendar for full details, dance programme and dance notes. Tickets are available from Susan Haug or susanhaug@shaw. Tuesday, December 13 GLENAYRE CHRISTMAS DANCE St. Laurence Church Hall - 7:30 pm $ St. Laurence St., Coquitlam Please join us for an evening of social dancing. A fun programme with something for every level of dancer, with music provided by some of the very best SCD bands. (*easier dances) Down Unda*...R...McMurty-Devils Quandary Miss Florence Adams***...S...Book 38 Airie Bennan*...J...Hugh Foss - Glendarroch Clatterin Brig*...R...Goldring G & S Fair Donald*...S...Book 29 The Shadow**...J...Book 50 Shiftin Bobbins*...R...Glowes, Ormskirk 6 Seton s Ceilidh Band**...R...Mosion s Bush Coll. Lord Elgin s Reel*...S...Book 26 Duke of Atholl s Reel*...J...Book 16 The Annan Reel**...R...Sue Petyt Friendships*...S...3rd Graded Book Espie McNabb*...J...Miss Milligan Misc. 11 Wednesday, December 28 BETWIXT AND BETWEEN Scottish Cultural Centre- 7:30 p m RSCDS members free -$15 non-members Looking for something fun to do between holiday gatherings? Come dance to the irresistible music Mary Ross at our annual Betwixt and Between dance, sponsored in part by the Mary Wattum Fund. We hope you will bring a small offering of seasonal fare to share at the table. Saturday, February 18 *Denotes easiest dances ***Denotes more difficult dances Lamb Skinnet*...J...Book 14 City of Belfast**...S...Diamond Jubilee Dances - Belfast Flowers of Edinburgh*...R...Book 1 I Mind Hid Fine***...M...Vanc. 50th Anniversary Coll. Well Done Jack*...J...Book 29 Sauchie Haugh**...S...SCD Leaflets The Magic of Merrill***...R...San Francisco Other Dances ******* The Shetland Shepherdess*...J...3rd Graded Book of Dances Linnea s Strathspey**...S...Book 47 Mary Wattum s Reel**...R...Vancouver Ruby Collection Wandering Wallaby*...J...Book 50 Minister on the Loch*...S...24 Social & Graded Dances Mairi s Wedding**...R...22 SCDs LOVE TO DANCE WORKSHOP & TEA DANCE Scottish Cultural Centre LOVE TO DANCE SCOTTISH PLAN FOR THE DAY Teachers: Rebecca Blackhall-Peters and Ruth Jappy Fabulous music and dancing to the Tartan Players This event is always very popular, so register early and tell your friends. Registration forms will be available in mid-november online and through your local club representative. Watch the website Events Calendar for more details. Inquires: Jean Wagstaff or Fran Caruth

7 Saturday, January 21 VANCOUVER BRANCH BURNS SUPPER Scottish Cultural Centre - Bar 6:00 pm - Dinner 7:00 pm $55 Mark your calendars for the 43rd annual celebration of the life and poetry of Robert Burns. The evening includes a traditional Scottish meal with all the trimmings, a no-host bar for wine, beer and whisky, wonderful music from the Vancouver Fiddle Orchestra, entertainment by the Vancouver Branch Demonstration Team, and a varied dance programme for everyone. It is the perfect night s entertainment for your non-dancing family and friends! Tickets will be available at the Lady Aberdeen Tea Dance, through your local club, online at rscdsvancouver.org or contact Mary Anne Mackay at burns@rscdsvancouver.org. Photo by Kerry McDevitt Sandy Marshall pipes in Gerry Stensgaard and the Haggis at Burns Gay Gordons (Trad.)...M...Non-Progressive Well Done Jack...J...Book 29 The Dancing Bees...R...Graded & Social Dances - 1 Seann Triubhas Willichan...S...Book 27 Tae Fife and Back...J...Goldring 12 Round Reel of Eight...R...Book 27 Burns Night...J...Boston 50th MacDonald of the Isles...S...Haynes, Carnforth Collection 2 Society Piper...R...Goldring 10 Dales of Stirling...J...Deep Cove 30th There s Something About Thirty...S...Book 50 Bratach Bana...R...Drewry, Bon Accord 13 The 2017 heather ball weekend The RSCDS Vancouver Branch is excited to announce the 2017 Heather Ball Weekend. Two great events and only $95 when you purchase a combination ticket. Mark your calendars and do not miss this gala weekend of dancing and listening enjoyment. Visit our website for further details. Saturday, March 18 THE HEATHER BALL Scottish Cultural Centre - Reception 5:45 pm - Supper 6:15 pm $80 Start with a champagne reception, followed by supper, the Grand March and dancing to the fabulous music of Luke Brady's Scottish Dance Band from Scotland! After the dance, enjoy a hot cider or shandy and shortbread. The Duke of Atholl s Reel...J...Book 16 The Birks of Invermay...S...Book 16 Catch the Wind...R...Book 45 A Capital Jig...J...5 Dances for 2009 There s Something about Thirty...S...Book 50 Maxwell s Rant...R...Book 18 Gothenburg s Welcome...J...Book 37 The Lea Rig...S...Book 21 Sleepy Maggie...R...Book 11 ********* Lady Irvine s Jig...J...Lewis Derrick The Braes of Tulliemet...S...Book 7 Bratach Bana...R...John Drewry Light and Airy...J...Book 4 The Minister on the Loch...S...4 Dances for 2008 The Reel of the Royal Scots...R...RSCDS Leaflets Sunday, March 19 LUKE BRADY IN CONCERT Holy Trinity Anglican Church - 3:00 pm $ West 12th Avenue, Vancouver Luke Brady is a talented and versatile young accordionist and pianist from Scotland. His concert highlights musicians who have inspired him and reflects events and travels in his life as a musician. Dancers and non-dancers alike will love listening to his lively Scottish tunes. The concert also boasts a variety of music genres and styles. 14

8 Dancing news & photos Cathrine s Significant Birthday Celebration Wow! A record turnout for the branch AGM on September 16th. Thank you to the 50 or so of you who stayed for my birthday dance. The Tartan Players music gave life to our feet, and the program contained favourite dances of mine over the years. Alan and I had great fun preparing the photos for the contest! The winner was Gerry Stensgaard. Some pictures were hard to guess: Merrill Hall, for those who have not been to Asilomar; JB Milne, or John Drewry, for those who had never met the latter, and to my surprise, Irish Rover, to those who have never heard the sea shanty about the unbelievable tale of that umpteen-masted schooner! I hope you looked it up and enjoyed listening to the song. Thank you to those who brought food, and to those who helped in the kitchen, so that we could eat and drink from real crockery. I believe all birthdays with zeros should be celebrated with joy and you, my RSCDS family, helped me do that. Let s make sure we keep dancing, so we can all meet again for a repeat, nay, an eclipse(!) in 10 years!!! Cathrine Conings West End Fall Frolic The West End SCD Club was delighted to hold its Sixth Annual Fall Frolic this September long weekend. We enjoyed familiar dances to great music by the Tartan Players. Many thanks to those who brought a plate of food for our table. Special thanks to the West End SCD Club members for all your work in making our dance a success. I was pleased to see a request for an encore of my dance Whimsical Kerry and even got to dance it! Congratulations to Gerry Stensgaard who won the Heather Ball Weekend raffle prize. Mary Ann McDevitt Left - Safety Inspector Alan gives the safety briefing Photos by Kerry McDevitt Photos by Kerry McDevitt 15 16

9 Deep Cove s 30th Anniversary Lunch Dancing in Japan Kansai White Heather Dancers Old friends and new friends gathered at Seymour Golf & Country Club on Sunday, October 16, 2016 to celebrate 30 years of Scottish Country Dancing in Deep Cove. First started by Dorothy Hargreaves in 1986, the Deep Cove club has been offering fun, friendships and laughter ever since. For many years Dorothy taught two classes a week and introduced many people to the joys of dancing. There was a lovely lunch, a little bit of dancing and lots of reminiscing - a great afternoon! Kay Sutherland Gerry Stensgaard who won the Heather Ball Weekend raffle prize. Pictured with Dorothy above are seven of her original twelve Deep Cove SCD Club members. Left to right - Diana Howard, Roz Krisovensky, Dorothy Hargreaves, Kay Sutherland and Sheila Morrison. Behind - Jim Morrison, Peter Richards and piper, Terry Shaw. Below - six of our newest members. Dorothy gave a heart warming history of the Deep Cove Club and was presented with a lifetime membership by our current President, Annabel Herdman. Photos by Kerry McDevitt 17 Teacher, Mr. Ohta above right What gracious and welcoming hosts the Japanese SC Dancing enthusiasts are! Alan and Cathrine visited Japan last spring We danced with the Kansai White Heather Dancers in Osaka and with the Tokyo Scottish Bluebell Dancers. Both put on a dance for us. I had a joyous reunion with 6 dancers I had known 35 years ago when I lived in Kyoto. A big fuss was made over us by the group of 50 at the Tokyo party our last night in Japan. Their teacher, Masako Okada, a special friend of mine, insisted we stay overnight at her smaller than tiny apartment. The quality of their dancing and devotion to their hobby was just as high as I remembered it. I had been dancing only 3 years when I went to live in Japan, and I sure learned a lot from them! In Japan the question is: What is your hobby? not hobbies and they strive for excellence in their one chosen area! Most dancers at both parties went out together for dinner after dancing (at an izakaya, a drinking spot!) because they came to class directly from work. So we were eating at 9:30. The Osaka dancers chose an all you can drink place. The dry-fried chicken, sushi, savory custard, corn pizza, squid pancake, etc. kept appearing to be shared by all. No one ever got to eat a full serving of anything! And they kept ordering alcohol and more alcohol. Gone was the reserve we d seen earlier! They are a tightly knit community who have a lot of fun together. I taught my dance, Vancouver Cherry Blossoms, from the Vancouver Golden Anniversary Collection, and we did some dances of their devising. Masako, now in her 80 s, teaches SC dancing in Tokyo five nights a week! She and her late husband formed all the classes that are still going strong. There are 2 Branches and 12 affiliated groups in Japan! It is very likely she and other Japanese dancers will come to Vancouver for TAC summer school in July I hope many of you can meet and dance with them. Take your dance shoes if you plan a trip to Japan. A warm welcome awaits you! Cathrine Conings Tokyo Scottish Bluebell Dancers - Masako is fourth from the left 18

10 RSCDS Vancouver Branch Board Appointments Betwixt & Between Coordinator Burns Supper Coordinator Sally & Sandy Marshall Dancing Coordinator Frances Caruth Dancing In the Park Coordinator Alison Moen Demonstration Team Director Kay Sutherland Demonstration Team Manager Sandy Caruth Heather Ball Chair Rosemary Coupe Love To Dance Workshop Frances Caruth Newsletter Editors Mary Ann & Kerry McDevitt Nominating Chair Sandy Caruth RSCDS Director USAC Ltd. Stewart Cunningham Website Manager Mary Ann McDevitt Other Representatives Ceilidh Director Duncan MacKenzie TAC Representative Frances Caruth North Shore Children Louise Steinway Nov 5, 12 & 19 Ladies Step Dance Class Session 2 - Vancouver Feb 18 Love To Dance Workshop & Tea Dance - Vancouver Nov 11 Lady Aberdeen Tea Dance Feb 18 Van Isle Valentine Dance Nov 12 VFO Fund Raiser Concert Feb 24 Vancouver Ceilidh Dance Nov 19 Caledonian Society St. Andrew s Ball Mar 4 Burnaby Spring Dance Nov 19 VanIsle St Andrew s Social Mar 18 Heather Ball - Vancouver Nov 25 Vancouver Ceilidh Dance Mar 19 Luke Brady in Concert Vancouver Branch Nov 26 Delta Borderers Fall Dance Mar 25 VISCDS Workshop & Ball Nov 29 Dec 03 Dec. 10 Fort Langley St. Andrew s Dance Children s Christmas Party N Shore Children SCDC Celtic Christmas in Kerrisdale - Inverglen Mar 31 Apr 1 Apr 8 Vancouver Ceilidh Dance Glenayre Spring Dance Children s Easter Party N Shore Children SCDC Dec 10 Van Isle Christmas Social Apr 22 Deep Cove Spring Dance Dec 11 Gleneagles Ball Apr 22 Nanaimo Spring Dance Dec 13 Glenayre Christmas Dance Apr 22 Van Isle Spring Fling Dec 28 Betwixt & Between Dance Vancouver Branch Apr 28 Vancouver Ceilidh Dance Dec 31 Van Isle New Year s Social Apr 29 Vernon Workshop&Dance Jan 13 Vancouver Ceilidh Dance May 7 White Rock Spring Dance Jan 14 Nanaimo New Year s Ball May 28 Fort Langley Tea Dance Jan 21 Burns Supper Vancouver Branch May 29, Jun 5&12 H/Games Rehearsals - for Mass Demonstration Jan 28 Van Isle Robbie Burns Soc. Jun 17 Highland Games Jan 28 Vancouver area calendar Of events Tam O Shanter Burn s Night - White Rock Jul 23 - Jul 30 TAC Summer School Vancouver (UBC) Times, dates and venues for Events can be subject to change. Please check the Club or RSCDS website for the most up-to-date information. 20