Your News - June 06
One of the best parts of being Scottish, being of Scottish descent or just being interested in all things Scottish, is being able to attend the numerous Festivals, Gatherings and Games that are held throughout the world.
Here is a snapshot of Scottish events right across the globe. Thank you to all those who sent us in their events. Please continue to use the Contact Us button to send us your news.
In this issue, we look at Canada, USA, Belgium and The Netherlands, Hawaii, Hungary, Germany, Australia, Czech Republic, France, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, and Poland.
Some Highlights from Canada
Calgary Highland Games
A day of festivities is planned including Highland Dancing, Piping and Drumming and Heavy Events.
Saturday, September 2, 2006 at Shouldice Park, Calgary, Alberta
Linda Aberdeen
Tel: (403) 538-3513
Fax: (403) 538-3538
info@calgaryhighlandgames.org
www.calgaryhighlandgames.org
16th Annual Canmore Highland Games
Highland Dance, Heavy Sports, Piping and Drumming competitions.
Scottish & Celtic wares of all kinds available. Events go on rain or shine – bring your lawn chairs!
Sunday, September 3, 2006 at Centennial Park, Canmore, Alberta
canmorehighlandgames@telus.net
www.canmorehighlandgames.ca
Some highlights from United States of America.
Grandfather Mountain Highland Games
This year will be the GMHG's 50th Anniversary. They plan to have a wide array of events from July 6-9 2006. For a full schedule please click here.
This Games were modelled after the Braemar Highland Games in Scotland and are considered to be the grandfather of Scottish Games in the United States.
Held annually on MacRae Meadows, high on the slopes of Grandfather Mountain, the Highland Games have become popular not only because of the gathering of Scots and those of Scottish descent, but also because of the close resemblance of the Grandfather Mountain area to Scotland itself.
Where did it all begin? Given the natural setting, the MacRae family, founders of Linville and of Scottish descent, decided to sponsor a Gathering of Clans and Highland Games. The first year 10,000 people attended the spectacle in 1956. The idea began to take shape when Miss Monimia MacRae sent an article about Highland Games to her cousin, Mrs. J.W. Morton (Agnes MacRae). Donald F. MacDonald was contacted and at once offered his assistance. From that time on plans developed rapidly and many others gave enthusiastic help and interested cooperation. The aims of the organisers is to carry on and promote the annual Grandfather Mountain Highland Games and Gathering of Scottish Clans, to foster and restore interest in traditional dancing, piping, drumming, athletic achievement, music and Gaelic culture, and to establish scholarship funds to assist students from Avery County High School to study at American colleges and universities.
Event highlights include world class music (Albannach, Alex Beaton and more), the very best of competition, dances, drum circles, history, camping and much, much more. In fact there is so much to do, expect to come back next year to do it all!
For some video clips of the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, please click here.
Contact: Grandfather Mountain Highland Games
Tel: (828) 733-1333
Contact: highland@gmhg.org
www.gmhg.org
Monterey Scottish Highland Games
and Celtic Festival
The Games take place from 5-6 August 2006
c/o Scottish Society of the Monterey Peninsula
956 Via Verde
Del Ray Oaks, CA 93940
(831) 647-6311
Fax: (831)899-7907
www.montereyscotgames.com
Contact: brigadoon@redshift.com
Colorado Scottish Festival and Rocky Mountain Highland Games
The Games take place from Aug 12-13
c/o St. Andrew's Society of Colorado
P.O. Box 2765
Littleton, CO 80161-2765
(303) 798-0844
Contact: jthornton@scottishgames.org
www.scottishgames.org
Round Hill Scottish Games
The Games take place on July 1st
P.O. Box 2216
Darien, CT 06820
(203) 978-0504
Fax: (203) 359-6801
Contact: secretary@roundhill.org
www.roundhill.org
Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddling School
This event runs from Aug 25–Sep 2
c/o Scottish Fiddlers of California
1281 Fifth Ave
San Francisco, CA 94122
(415) 566-4355
E-mail: vom@monitor.net
www.valleyofthemoon.org
Some highlights from Belgium and the Netherlands
Schotse dagen
Schotse dagen in Ooidonk, Bachte-Maria-Leerne (Deinze), Belgium
19/20 August 2006
www.schotsedagen.be
Schotland Life
Schotland Life in Puttershoek, the Netherlands.
7 October 2006
Organised by the World of Scotland
www.theworldofscotland.nl
Celtic Weekend
Celtic Weekend, Merelbeke.
4/5 November 2006
www.glengarry.be
International Whisky Festival
International Whisky Festival, Pieterskerk Leiden, the Netherlands
10/12 November 2006
Organised by us.
www.whiskyfestival.nl
St Andrews Society of the Netherlands, Wassenaar
The St Andrews Society of the Netherlands' Reel Club meets every Friday from September – June in Cultureel Centrum Warenar, Kerkstraat, Wassenaar. The main event in the Society's year is the St. Andrew's Ball in November. The next big event is the Summer Ball on June 18th. Non-members are very welcome to attend all events.
The Society can be contacted at:
e-mail: info@standrews.nl
web: www.standrews.nl
The Thistle Club, Eindhoven
The Thistle Club in Eindhoven meet on Wednesdays between 20:30 and 22:45 in De Landing, Tarwelaan 109, Eindhoven, (Country) and on Mondays between 20:30 and 22:30 in De Werf, v.d. Werffstraat 14, Eindhoven (alternately Country and Highland). The teachers for the Country classes are Petra Siemons and Rik de Vroome; for Highland classes Rik de Vroome.
They can be contacted via:
Email: Secretary@thistleclub.nl
Web: www.thistleclub.nl
Some highlights from Australia
Australia has a summer of Scottish events planned. Here are a few.
Council of Clans et al
2 July 10:30 for 11am
Kirkin' o' the Tartan & Lunch
Scots Church
Collins Street
Melbourne
Robert Stewart
03 9891 6450
randjstewart@optusnet.com.au
Prahran & District Scottish Society
14 July at 8pm
Social
Toorak UC Hall
603 Toorak Rd
Toorak
Glenn Dudley
03 9437 7734
Scottish Ancestry Group
17-18 July 9:30am – 5pm
Scottish Genealogy Conference TBA
John Blackwood
03 9822 4152
jx64@bigpond.net.au
Geelong Scottish Country Dance Group
28 July at 7:30pm
Annual Social
Senior Citizens' Hall
Geelong West
Jessie Craik
03 5221 2055
Box Hill & Dist Scottish Society
19 August at 7:30pm
50th Anniversary Charity Ball
Box Hill Town Hall
Julia Grant
03 9890 2546
Scotscraig Scottish Country Dance Group
26 August at 8pm
Springtime Social
Uniting Church
Banool Road
Balwyn
Maureen Shinton
03 9702 4918
tshinton@bigpond.net.au
Robert Burns Club of Melbourne
27 August at 2pm
President's Scottish afternoon (Free)
Masonic Hall
42 Curzon Street
North Melbourne
Bev Tait 03 9743 5383
dalriada@alphalink.com.au
Highlights from Hungary
The Robert Burns International Foundation and the Hungarian Scottish Society hold traditional Scottish events throughout the year.
Highlights from Germany
Internationale Highlandgames in Halle (Saale)
30 June to 2 July 2006
Traditional games and festivities aplenty including sports, dance, music and a Middle Ages market! The high point is the Celtic fireworks on the Sunday night. The Games draw annually thousands of tourists from across the whole world.
www.highlandgames-halle.de
Munich Scottish Association
They have traditional events running throughout the year.
Please go to their website to keep up with their up and coming events.
www.munichscottish.de
Scottish Dancing in Hamburg
This popular society have regular events. They usually meet every Thursday from 19:30 - 22:00 hours in the smaller gym of Albert Schweitzer Schule, entrance Stübeheide (7 min. walk from S1 Kornweg / parallel Wellingsbüttler Landstraße – parking places provided).
Please go to www.hamburg.de for a map.
Further information from Valerie Puschmann
Tel & Fax: +49 (0)40 - 600 77 10
vep-tellurian@t-online.de
www.Scottish Country Dancinghamburg.de/index.html
The Munich Caledonians
Who or what are we? It's very simple. If you like Scottish music and dancing, having a blether or just watching people enjoying themselves, then that is who and what we are.
We are a group of resident Scots promoting Scottish cultural and social evenings in and around Munich. We have ceilidhs, hill walks, sports days and our two gala evenings: the St. Andrew's Dinner Dance and of course the Burns Supper.
Why not come along and find out for yourselves – I'm sure you won't regret it!
Information supplied by Annie Tabacchi
www.the-munich-caledonians.org
Some highlights from Czech Republic
Scottish Country Dance Club in Prague was established to promote Scottish Country Dancing in Praha (Czech Republic). We organise Scottish Country Dancing socials on the first Thursday every month. Just come and don´t forget to bring a smile and a sense of fun!
Please feel free to contact (E-mail or phone):
Vašek Polák: (420 2) 684 0337
Irena Samcová: (420 2) 333 71 456, mobile:0604 474618
www.volny.cz/skotsketance/english
Some highlights from France
Lyon Scottish Country Dancing Group
Lyon Scottish Country Dancing group was created in 1986. Its 19 members had never danced Scottish Country Dancing regularly before. During day-schools organised by la Chanterelle and la Ronde Folklorique, they discovered country dancing and decided to meet once a month to dance Scottish Country Dancing. The group decided to be integrated in La Chanterelle in 1987 and to affiliate to the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society (RScottish Country DancingS) in 1991. Over the years, the number of evening workshops increased, along with the number of new members, and we are now more than thirty. In June 2005, we became a totally independent association, under the name Scottish Chanterelle.
Not only do we hold regular classes on Fridays, but we also organise day-schools, weekends and balls that enable us and many dancers from other parts of France or Europe to discover the talents of our guest teachers and musicians: whether they are French or British, they come to share their knowledge of and passion for Scottish Country Dancing.
scottishchanterelle.insitoo.com
Royal Scottish Country Dance Society in Paris
Come and dance with us! Learn the steps and the formations to the sound of traditional music both old and new, in a fun and international environment! Scottish Country Dancing is danced in groups (called sets) of four, six or eight. Sets of six or eight dancers are the most common. Some dances are easy, while others take a lot longer to learn. Elegance, strength, teamwork and most of all fun are all combined to make dancing a fantastic experience! Opening windows not only to Scottish culture, but to others in the world, you can dance in Paris, but you can also take your dancing shoes to Scotland (of course), but also to New York, Tokyo, or Hawaii ... on the five continents and find dancers ready to welcome you all over the world.
Come and join us, we're waiting for you! secretary@rScottish Country Dancingsparis.org www.rScottish Country Dancingsparis.org
Some highlights from Italy
Florence Scottish Association
The Florence Scottish Association of Florence meets once a month on Saturdays from 20:30 to 23:00 at the DLF in via Paisiello 131, Florence. Occasional extra dates, such as the St. Andrews Ball and Robert Burns Night, are also planned. The teacher and dance director is Donald Francis.
The secretary of the Florence Scottish Association is Mr Michele Chiarini and he can be contacted at:
florencescots@inwind.it
spazioinwind.libero.it/fsa
Societá di Danza
Societá di Danza, Bologna, Modena, Pisa, Livorno, Ferrara, Lecce, Milano, Trento, Bergamo, Roma
The Association Societá di Danza, directed by Fabio Mollica, has regular courses of Scottish Country Dances and XIX Century dances in several cities, with various teachers, and is affiliated to the RSCDS. Several balls and events are organised during the year. The Societá di Danza organises an Easter School and a Summer School, more information can be found at www.societadidanza.it/stage.html
Contact: Societá di Danza, Via Cavallerini 6, 41100 Monde, Italy
e-mail: info@societadidanza.it
web: www.societadidanza.it
Highlights from New Zealand
The Wellington Gaelic Club 75th Anniversary 08 July 2006
A special ceilidh will be held to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Wellington Gaelic Club. Special guests including Dame Catherine Tizard. Supper will be provided. Tickets must be purchased before the event from committee members or McPhee's " Celtic Center" in Tawa, as there are no door sales on the night.
The Wellington Gaelic Club was formed 75 years ago by a group of highlanders and islanders - many from Lewis and Skye - and although their numbers have dwindled over the years, they are still a very active bunch, meeting every month for a ceilidh.
Naturally they have close connections to other Scottish groups within the community including the Scottish dance society and various Highland Pipe Bands. The City of Wellington Band has performed at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo on several occasions and the Tattoo itself was transported lock, stock and (mock) castle to Wellington a couple of years ago.
Therefore the Scots have quite a high profile in Wellington and indeed throughout New Zealand. It is said there are more Highland pipe bands in NZ per head of population than anywhere else in the world, including Scotland itself.
The 75th anniversary promises to be quite an event. In addition to Dame Catherine Tizard, a former Governor-General, our own High Commissioner will also be attending. He is a Fergusson and his family have strong connections with New Zealand. His father, Lord Ballantrae, was Governor General in the 1960s and earlier generations of Fergussons were either Governors-General or Governors as far back as the late 1800s.
Wear some tartan on the night and enjoy the live music, lively dancing and good fellowship.
Contact Ian Telfar on 04 3874 252
Highlights from Norway
Oslo Scottish Country Dance Group
In Oslo? Come and join us on Mondays at 7 p.m, at Nydalen Samfunnshus, Gjerdrums vei 1. We dance mixed level Scottish country dances (rarely Ceilidh or Highland) until 10 p.m., with a vital twenty minutes' tea-break. Our enthusiastic teachers, workshops with invited teachers from as far away as San Francisco and musicians from the UK (Thanks Ron, Keith and James!), regular social dances and our legendary Burns Supper keep us on our toes. What better way to get through the long dark winter nights?
Dancers – either alone or with friends – are always welcome.
Just come along on a Monday (check the calender for holiday breaks), send our secretary@oScottish Country Dancingg.no an email or phone our chairman at +47 99 44 45 15.
Highlights from Poland
ISTA Scottish Dancing Club
Scottish dancing arrived in Poland 10 years ago at the time when folk culture from various regions of the world gained popularity. Scottish Country Dancing and Highland Scottish dancing demonstrations always attract a great number of viewers, some of them joined Scottish dancing classes. ISTA School Dance in co-operation with teachers being RSCDS members offers Scottish dancing classes, weekend workshops and organises ceilidhs. Dancers from Poland as well as foreign visitors are always most welcome to join our classes and dance with us elegant strathspeys, dynamic reels and jigs and, the fittest can enjoy highland dancing.
Would you like to know more about Scottish dancing in Poland? Would you like to join our classes, workshops or celidh? Contact us at:
Marta Guzy ISTA Dancing School
e-mail: ista.art.pl
tel. (48) 501 039 629, fax: (48) 12 661 22 34
web site: www.ista.art.pl (also in English)
Our mission is to popularise Scottish dancing in Poland, we have articles on Scottish dancing and on its history (in Polish only for the time being). These articles, we believe, can be of great help to Poles looking for information about Scottish Dancing.
