Quote Originally Posted by greenguzzi View Post
... I'm sorry to say that I had not heard of Scottish Country Dancing before. So I just Googled it, and discovered that it seems pretty big here Downunder. ...
In a small way, it is pretty big all around the world.
Small because none of us seem to have found a way of advertizing our pastime to get new people into our clubs.

I'm not surprised Greenguzzi had not heard of SCD before; it remains a very confidential activity, even though all the groups would love to increase their membership.

Even when they do discover a local SCD group, I have found that women are reluctant to give it a try as they think they have lost their youthful grace, men are reluctant because it is not a TV sport, the young are reluctant because it's not noisy enough, the old because it's too energetic ... and the Scots are reluctant because nasty school ma'ams made them do it as kids, and they hated it!

Lots of people are put off by the relatively long apprenticeship period during which they feel complete idiots. But those that persevere are rewarded when, all of a sudden, the patterns click into place, the rhythms feel completely natural -- and they are hooked for life.

I began my dancing a little earlier than kilt wearing, about 50 years ago, and have found it a great way of meeting people wherever I have been.

Martin,
in Grenoble, France.