A Busy Start to 2008
by Kathleen Merchant, Thursday, 24th April 2008
Junior Section
Since the youngsters re-started dance classes after the Christmas holidays they have been active and happy with some of the older children supporting the adults at various displays and entertainments in January - mostly Burns Night Suppers. They do a great job with all their different talents.
February saw them taking part in the 22nd Annual Young Peoples SCD Festival, this year at the Leigh Sports Village. The Dance Festival was the first event to take place in their brand new Sports Centre - what an experience!
In March they headed off to Liverpool with families and friends to take part in the Music, Arts & Crafts Festival. This competitive event saw the juniors bringing home lots of medals and certificates, and both individual and society trophies. We loved being invited to sample all their sweets and baking!! They were really yummy!!
April brought in longer daylight hours and much better health for the youngsters. They took part in a very lively Family Ceilidh night at the Daten Sports Centre in Culcheth, nr. Warrington and everyone appreciated their energy and entertainment.
Some of the dancers are taking part in "A Step Back in Time" an evening of Scotting Dancing, Piping and Singing at the Garrick Theatre, Stockport in May with a guest group "Greensleeves" presenting historical dances from around the 1700s. Their teacher (Margaret) does a great job with the choreograpy, as each display is different as the numbers and abilities vary tremendously. The youngsters work hard with Margaret and together they always provide excellent items.
Adult Section
Even with all the sickness and bugs that are usually about in the New Year our adult section got off to a great start with a super Burns Night Supper, and our dancers also provided displays and helped entertain at other Burns Night Suppers in the area - even as far as Blackpool!
Some of our adults took part in the M.A.C. Festival at Liverpool and entered some really lovely knitted items, handicrafts, baking, photography and painting. Many certificates were awarded and we all had chuckles at the various calamities occurring in the process!
What a wonderful time we had when a coach load of us went to Gateshead to see the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra - they were fantastic with their variations of slow and fast airs, soloists, and a wee girl and boy dancing and piping on stage - their liveliness made us exhausted just watching them!. Our hotel was just fine and we enjoyed a visit to Bowes Museum at Barnard Castle, Co. Durham - we enjoyed our afternoon tea indoors, and then the cold wind chased us into our coach!
And our annual Spring Ball went with a swing with the Danelaw Band keeping us on our toes (sort of).
We are excitely looking forward to the Liverpool City of Culture Ball later on in May. Now that will be a special occasion to dance in st.George's Hall.
We look forward to our trip to Scotland on the 21st July, basing ourselves in Stirling, when amongst other things we visit the Royal Yacht Brittania, sailing on Loch Lomond, visiting Blair Drummond Safari, having spare time in Edinburgh, testing out the whisky distilleries, the Scottish Country Dancing with Alan Ross and lots of other "happenings"!
Anyone is welcome to join us. Monday nights are our meeting nights - everyone is welcome. 7pm sees a small but happy tuition group and from 8pm we have a very friendly and active lively group of dancers. If you wish to join us all you have to do is bring a smile and some soft footwear.