Feb. 13, 2006, 5:43 p.m. (Message 44245)
> Pia, you may have made your comments with tongue in cheek, but, after I had been dancing for a few > years and was still young and arrogant (not that I have changed much), I was informed by an > > immigrant Scottish teacher that, as a New Zealander, I could not appreciate what SCD was all about. > Regards, > Iain Boyd I'm sure there is something about learning an aspect of a nations culture while growing up a native of that country. I started SCDing at five with my parents. I grew up with it, and have danced continuously since. But this was in England. I did not know of the RSCDS or dance in Scotland until in my twenties. Now living in Canada I have taught Scots who only started when coming to this country. Despite my involvement I am constantly aware that I (sadly, though proud to be English) do not have that certain aspect, knowledge and part of my being that can only come from "being a Scot". It is remarkable and wonderful that SCDing is world wide and we are fortunate that it is. However even if native African dancing, Canadian totem pole carving, or the like, had become globally popular we would also be participating in an adopted art form, however proficient we might become. Simon Vancouver