Chair Chat
Dear dancers,
Sadly, we have some way to go before we can meet up again. I am already thinking ahead to the sheer joy of the first post-lockdown events.
Despite lockdown and all the cancellations we have had to make, the Leeds Branch is working hard to keep Scottish dancing (and music!) alive and well. The Committee is holding the scheduled April meeting by email.
So far we have discussed and agreed cancellations (over which we really have no choice), cancellation fees and finances and communication strategies for the next few months. Ten days in, the meeting is still continuing, with several more items on the agenda!
Feel free to send an encouraging email to chair@rscdsleeds.org.uk I will share the best comments with my fabulous committee. Cancelling events is no fun at all.
Thinking of you all,
Marion
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In line with Government guidelines, we have regretfully decided to cancel all Leeds Branch dancing through to September. This includes not only classes, the April Workshop and social dances, but also the White Rose Festival. It was agreed that even if restrictions were lifted before then, the teams would not have time to practise. The programme will be carried over to 2021, thus giving teams with inexperienced dancers more time to practise the dances.
Hopefully, classes will be able to restart in September and the Day School will go ahead, but the committee will review the decision later in the year, when we see how things are likely to pan out.
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Spring Flings and Summer School in St Andrews 2020
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Sadly these international events are also now cancelled. See the Society website and eNewsletters entitled Dance Scottish at Home.
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Head Office, Coates Crescent
Staff at RSCDS Head Office in Edinburgh are now working from home, but assure us that they are hoping to provide 'service as usual'. See below for initiatives/compromises they have already instigated to keep us all informed and connected.
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eUpdate
In the absence of seeing you all at classes and dances, your committee will endeavour to keep in contact with you by continuing to send you regular eUpdates to keep you informed of what is happening in the Leeds area. We will also attach links and quizzes.
Quizzes
I know many of you are taking part in quizzes, and thought you might like these two dance related ones:
These two from Sandbach Caledonian Society - Can you name these popular dances? and Can you name these popular dances (part 2). Includes at least two from a Leeds Devisor!
Fun with Diagrams on the My Strathspey server from Anselm Lingnau
The latest copy of Scottish Country Dancer magazine was emailed out to those members among you whose email address they have. l think that should be all of you, but only to the first named of the pair if you are an adult joint member; you can forward it to your partner. However, if you did not get a copy, please let me know. For now, here is a link to it. Regrettably some of the items in it are somewhat out of date, as they were written before the Coronavirus pandemic. For now, paper copies are being sent only to those with no email.
A new venture from Head Office is a weekly eNewsletter entitled Dance Scottish At Home (1), and Dance Scottish At Home (2)which you should receive if they have your email address. Again, let me know if you have not received the first TWO. This Newsletter is far more sophisticated than one we can produce right now, as it draws on a far wider range of contributors and expertise. We are looking at ways of sharing with those with no email.
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The published programme for the day and the evening have now been postponed until 2021, which gives everyone plenty of time to practise the dances, and we hope to see you all there. Music will still be with Susan MacFadyen and her band.
Further details are on our festival website or sign up to our festival mailing list. |
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I hope you are all well, and managing to keep dancing, if only round the furniture, on the balcony or in the garden! There's certainly plenty of music out there for us to dance to.
Best Wishes and keep safe
Evelyn
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