Jessie Stuart awarded BEM

9th January 2016

The Queen’s New Year Honours list recognise the achievements and service of extraordinary people across the United Kingdom.

In this year’s list appears the name of someone well-known in the traditional dance community.

Jessie Stuart was awarded the British Empire Medal for her services to Scottish Country Dancing and Old Time Dancing. Congratulations Jessie.

Jessie has just retired from teaching dancing at Dufftown Dance Club, but we’re sure she hasn’t hung-up her dancing shoes. We certainly hope not!

TRACS (Traditional Arts & Culture Scotland, SCIO SC043009) is a co-operative network which champions our shared traditions of music, song, storytelling, dance, crafts, customs and local languages. TRACS brings together the Traditional Music Forum (SCIO SC042867), the Scottish Storytelling Forum (SCIO SC052330) and the Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland (SCIO SC045085). Together we celebrate the local distinctiveness of Scotland’s places: our intangible cultural heritage. TRACS and the Forums have their registered office at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1SR. The Storytelling Centre is a partnership project between the Storytelling Forum and The Church of Scotland (SC011353).