Is Scottish Country Dancing for me?
• Do you beat time when there’s upbeat music playing?
• Can you count to 8? Give Margaret a call on 04 383 5917 or drop us an email at [email protected] or just turn up on the night to see what you’ll look like in action. About the Capital City Scottish Country Dance Club
We are a small friendly group of very mixed abilities. Although our previous na
me said Island Bay over the last 40 years we have gradually moved closer and closer to central Wellington. Now we meet every Thursday evening, February to November, 7:30pm to 9:30pm at Newtown School Hall, Mein Street, Wellington just next to Wellington Hospital. Our members get around – many dance at other clubs on other nights of the week, go to dances and balls around the region, attend weekend schools and the NZ Summer School around New Zealand and take their dancing shoes for a night or two dancing when travelling overseas. Come along and give it a go – we’d love to meet you. Why do Scottish Country Dancing?
• Enjoyable physical activity
• Stimulate your mind
• Great music – fast and lively, slow and elegant
• No experience needed
• Friendly people of all ages
• No partner needed – everyone dances with everyone
• No special clothes needed - just soft shoes
• Great way of meeting new people
• Suitable for all ages and levels of fitness
• Lots of benefits for health and wellbeing
o Cardiovascular workout for lower blood pressure and increased strength
o Weight-bearing exercise for increased flexibility and stronger bones
o Burn calories and improve coordination
o Social contact improves confidence, self esteem and increases your sense of wellbeing
• Part of a living tradition - new dances devised and new tunes composed
• Dance around the world - our members have danced in
o Scotland (of course)
o England
o France
o Germany
o the Netherlands
o Canada
o USA
o Australia
o and even New Zealand
o and have met fellow dancers from Japan, Switzerland, South Africa
What is Scottish Country Dancing? Scottish Country Dancing is a very social form of dancing danced in "sets" usually with four "couples" - unlike Highland Dancing which is usually solo dancing. Scottish dress is NOT required to attend clubs, dances or balls and you don’t need a partner to join a dance club. Partners who go dancing at clubs, dances or balls, do not dance all dances together. Scottish country dancing is a common pastime activity for more than 25,000 dancers in Scotland and around the world. You don’t need to be Scottish or even of Scottish descent – have a look at some of our friends in Japan all dressed up for a public performance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWi2lhQD2uQ
What’s Scottish Country Dancing look like? Search for Scottish Country Dancing on Youtube and take your pick – just remember that a lot of the videos are from public demonstrations or formal balls where everyone is all dressed up and doing some of the more complicated dances. We don’t look that fancy or that polished at our normal club nights – though sometimes we get close! One dance with special significance for Capital City Scottish Country Dance Club is “Catch the Wind” devided by one of our members Romaine Butterfield for a longtime former tutor Iain Boyd and his wife Noeleen O’Connor. Have a look at it being danced by young enthusiastic Russians at a ball in St Petersburg! Great music as well to listen to. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_bNZwvNRPo
