Ceilidh versus SCD

Pia Walker

Message 29453 · 1 Feb 2002 09:54:21 · Fixed-width font · Whole thread

A great thank you from those for whom English is not our first language :>)

Pia
----- Original Message -----
From: <XXxxxxxxXxxxxx@xxx.xxx>
To: <xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx>
Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2002 7:25 PM
Subject: Re: Ceilidh versus SCD

> Pia asked about the difference between Ceilidh and Scottish Country
Dancing,
> which I would have thought any member of the R.S.C.D.S. would have known.
>
> [By the way, the correct spelling of the word is CEILIDH and not ceidlidh]
>
> In Scottish COUNTRY dancing the word "country" has nothing whatsoever to
do
> with "rural" in the sense of being related to a particular territory. The
> word "country" as used in Scottish Country Dancing is a corruption of the
> latin "contra" meaning "opposite". In Scottish Contra (country) Dancing,
> partners usually stand opposite each other in longwise sets.
>
> Ceilidh is a Gaelic word for which there is no single English equivalent.
It
> originally signified (and still does to Gaelic speakers) a gathering at
which
> spontaneous singing, verse-recitation, music and dancing took place.
> However, the term "ceilidh dancing" nowadays usually refers to couple
dances
> (generally using "ballroom hold") or what used to be called "old-time"
dances
> (St. Bernard's Waltz, Gay Gordons, and so on, but including some
"borrowing"
> from Country Dancing (Strip the Willow, for example.)
>
> I hope this is helpful.
>
> David
>