Scottish Country Dancing in the NYC Metro Area You have reached a general interest dance page for RSCDS style dancing in the NY metropolitan area sponsored by Scotia Dance and Music Publishers (SDMP). This is an archive page for the 2002-2003 season. Scottish Country Dancing is the historic social dancing of Scotland done to exciting jigs, reels and elegant strathspeys. For centuries, these dances were enjoyed at court and in the countryside. Today, hundreds of groups around the world enjoy the sociability of this unique dance form. Many of these groups are part of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society (RSCDS). Each of these groups offer classes with a friendly, helpful program in which to learn. Five groups sponsor dancing in the New York City metropolitan area: Cameron Scottish Dancers* New Jersey Branch of the RSCDS (2 classes) New York Branch of the RSCDS (4 classes) Scotia Dancers of New York* Westchester Scottish Dancers *Designates a group that provides financial support for our dance and music education programs. 2002-2003 Events.   The RSCDS NY Branch started its season with a Preseason Party on 5 September followed by regular classes the following Thursday. On 9 September, the Scotia Dancers held the group's first Preseason Dance featuring the music of Mary Abdill, Jared Lee and friends. The RSCDSNJ Branch started classes on 9 September in Hightstown and on 10 September in Tenafly. It sponsored the Alpine Boat Basin picnic and dance on 22 September as a benefit for the RSCDSNY Branch Jeannie Carmichael Ball and monthly dances on 6 October, 9 November, 7 December 2002, 4 January 2003, 1 February 2003, 1 March 2003 and 3 May 2003. The Brooklyn class of the RSCDS NY Branch held the Brooklyn Bash on 19 October. All the New York area dance groups sponsored the Jeannie Carmichael Ball on 2 November at West Point, NY. The event was another hit with the music of Muriel Johnstone and Keith Smith. Lynn Pezold organized a concert in Oyster Bay by Muriel and Keith on Friday 1 November 2003. The Scotia Dancers and CD*NY second annual Evening of Scottish and English Dance on Tuesday, 26 November at Metropolitan Duane Hall was a great success. On 7 December, the RSCDS New York Branch sponsored John Drewry Dances Eve in Brooklyn, NY. The Cameron Dancers Christmas Tea Dance at the Poppenhusen Institute in College Point, Queens, NY on Saturday 14 December 2002 was a successful inauguration of Scottish Country Dancing in a grand old ballroom. Barbara McOwen led an ensemble that included Natalie Haas and Ken Smith for the first and third parts of the dance. She directed the Cameron Music Ensemble in her arrangements of exciting jigs and reels and haunting strathspeys for the middle third. On 16 December 2002 the Scotia Dancers held their Holiday Party at Madison Ave Baptist Church, New York, NY. The Celtic Knot -- Jim Stevenson, Kay Bromberg and Jared Lee -- provided the music for a very enjoyable evening. On 19 December 2002, the RSCDSNY Branch held its Holiday Party. The Westchester Scottish Dancers ended 2002 and welcomed 2003 with Hogmanay on 31 December. The Burn's Night Party on 23 January 2003 sponsored by the Scotia Dancers and the RSCDSNY Branch was well attended. As usual, The Celtic Knot played superbly. On 14 February 2003, the Cameron Dancers held a Valentine's Dance. The music by Debbie Nuse and Kay Bromberg along with a special group of musicians from Julliard School of Music - Natalie Haas, Joanna Farrer and Kris Sabo - was superb. On 24 February 2003, the Scotia Dancers held the second By Special Request night. Thanks to all the Long Island dancers who helped make the evening a success. On 24 March 2003, the Scotia Dancers held a Spring Party Night to end the Winter Season and welcome Spring. The Rerr Terr, sponsored by the RSCDSNJ Branch, was held on 29 March 2003. Then on 12 April, the RSCDS NY Branch held a party to introduce the dances in the Millennium Book of Dances. On 26 April, the Nassau County Scottish Country Dancers sponsored the Island Fling. The Pawling Weekend, held on 16-18 May 2003 in a new location, was both delightful and sad. Bobby Brown and the Scottish Accent provided the music for the weekend. The teaching and music were wonderful. However, our friend and colleague Joan Treble died after the Saturday evening dance. She was honored at dinner for her contributions to the New York Branch of the RSCDS, then she talked through some of the dances for the Highland Ball and attended the Ceilidh. Shortly thereafter, at the afters party, she died among friends. Spring is a season of change, and this year brought changes of venue to the New York area RSCDS groups. The NY Branch Pawling Weekend moved from Holiday Hills in Pawling to Circle Lodge in Hopewell. The 5th Avenue Presbyterian Church closed for major renovations scheduled to last 16-18 months. Consequently, the Cameron Scottish Dancers found themselves in a new home at Central Presbyterian Church, at 64th and Park, for the interim. The Cameron End of Season Party was held on Friday 13 June. On the following evening, Saturday 14 June, the Westchester Ball featured the music of Highland Whisky, at St John's Episcopal Church in Larchmont. The dance also celebrated the RSCDS World Day of Dance. The RSCDS New York Branch held Summerdance XIV on 2 August 2003 from 1 to 4 p.m. in the United Nations General Assembly Lobby. This is the annual fundraiser for UNICEF. This year's dance raised $1350 for UNICEF. Demonstrations. If you are looking for a colorful  music and dance presentation for your group or organization, consider a Scottish theme. We have groups that will present a show and/or lead audience participation. SDMP has helped arrange performances and demonstrations from North Carolina to New York and as far west as California utilizing local teams of dancers and musicians.  For further information, e-mail ScotiaDMP@aol.com or call 212-330-7643.   This page is sponsored by: Scotia Dance and Music Publishers c/o Jack E. Cole, Jr. PO Box 850 Planetarium Station New York, NY 10024-0540 Scotia Dance and Music Publishers is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting Scottish music and dance education.  Click on our web site to see how you can help support our educational effort. Copyright © 1996-2003 by Scotia Dance and Music Publishers.   All rights reserved. Some images on this page are copyright Patrick Gallagher, Celtic Art,Ltd.  Used by permission. Page last updated on 26 August 2003.