strathspey@strathspey.org:44989

Dick&Maureen Daniel

Re: Over 700 schoolchildren dance in Glasgow

April 7, 2006, 11:16 p.m. (Message 44989, in reply to message 44983)

I have no doubt there are many "converted " people in RSCDS.  The problem 
from my viewpoint is that no-one [in Scotland] is doing anything about that 
monstrous iceberg, other than making mouth-music.  Meantime, we are on "Full 
Speed Ahead".  Even when action is taken to "turn the wheel a wee" - rather 
than just talk at length and in depth about whether the wheel needs turning 
- a ship this big takes a long time to respond.  The sooner we change 
course, the less the wheel will need to be yanked to avoid the collision.  
Elementary physics.

The action needed is to DEMONSTRATE forcibly to all comers, that RSCDS 
dancers are NOT FIXATED on "proper" footwork and decorum.  That is 
definitely not the signal being generally transmitted at this point in time, 
in Scotland, as far as I and many non-RSCDS dancers/aspiring dancers I know 
and/or have met, are concerned.  I think it may also be the main reason that 
many non-RSCDS dancing clubs in Scotland go no further than affilliating 
with RSCDS and many don't even go that far.

People who come to Scottish RSCDS classes or public events [especially young 
people] have to be shown EXTREME levels of tolerance.  Call it ACTIVE 
Positive Discrimination to use current buzz words.  I don't think we are 
trying hard enough.  We think that if we can honestly say we had a good time 
at an event, that makes it self-evident that nothing is basically wrong with 
the RSCDS way, and we are right.  Unfortunately, the real young folk don't 
agree, and vote with their feet.

If you have never been to the Riverside Club in Glasgow [or similar venue], 
you can never begin to understand why their form of dancing is so generally 
attractive to young people, and the RSCDS version is generally NOT.   
......................... NB  ALL age groups are made very welcome there and 
ALL age groups dance together.  I have never seen, or heard of, any 
brawling.  It's all good simple fun dancing to good Scottish music - but 
with much more vigour than is normal at RSCDS events.

I am not suggesting Scottish RSCDS adopt Riverside Club format, only that we 
should move a bit  towards that format - particularly when dealing with 
young people.

Dick Daniel