Monday Class
Orpington and District Caledonian Society
Getting started and progressing in Scottish Dancing
Getting started
We offer lessons for Beginners & Improvers on Monday evening from 8pm to 10.00pm at Crofton Halls, York Rise, Orpington BR6 8PR. A friendly and helpful teacher will teach you the steps, formations and dances. You can be sure that the more experienced dancers will ask you to dance and help you through it all as it may be quite confusing at first!
What you will need
You will need a love of dancing, enthusiasm, a sense of fun and a basic level of fitness equivalent to skipping around a room in time to music. A pair of soft shoes will do to begin with but if you decide to join you will need to purchase a pair of Scottish dancing shoes.Here are some online suppliers :
https://www.jamessenior.co.uk/
https://thistleshoes.com/
https://www.scottishdanceshoe.co.uk/shoes/lomond-scottish-country-dance-pumps
Most ladies like to dance in a skirt. Men, once they decide it’s for them, may want to acquire a kilt. We welcome all new dancers either on their own, with a friend or two or as a couple.
What it costs
Your first lesson is free; you need to see if you’re going to like it! After that there is a small charge of £6.00 per lesson for non-members. If you join the Society (£5 per year) then you pay £5 per lesson.
Once you’re into it!
Once you have learnt the basics and are more confident you can attend our Social Dance evening on Thursdays. This fun and sociable group meets at Petts Wood Memorial Hall, 100 Petts Wood Road, BR5 1LA from 8pm to 10.15pm. Cost is £5.00. There are also a number of very well attended social dances organised by the Society throughout the year. These include an Autumn Dance in October, St Andrew's Celebration in November, Hogmanay on 31st December, Burns' Night in January, a March On Dance for newcomers and a Summer Dance usually held in June. Many members also attend the dances of other clubs and societies locally, nationally and even internationally. There are plenty of popular local dances that can be found on the KASS website kass.org.uk
A brilliant website to help you - www.scottish-country-dancing-dictionary.com
Have a look at this website because it will show you everything you need to know! Including crib sheets, videos of the dances, and instructions explaining footwork and formations.