News

March 2023

Spring has sprung across Scotland and we are sowing the seeds of our Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland Pomegranates – our springtime international traditional dance festival 28-30 April 2023. Have you booked your Pomegranates 2023 festival tickets yet? Pay What You Can now. Can’t make it to Edinburgh for the three festival nights of live dance shows, films, tours, talks, poems and afterparties? Join us from the comfort of your home or studio as we livestream the first festival day of twelve (!) workshops on 28 April 8am-5pm. Book now!

Alongside our Pay What You Can festival offer, you can also try our FREE Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland membership for 2023. Register now! In the meantime, let’s dance through March 2023! Just use our curatorial line up below to plan your Scottish and international dance steps across Scotland and beyond! Share our infographics for at a glance overview of our own Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland activities this month!

*

by 3 Mar

Garba – book this session and learn the authentic Indian folk dance form of Garba with Jigar Soni of Soni’s School of Garba Dance, the world’s biggest Garba school! Held at Dance Base, Edinburgh. Cost: £20

*

by 3 Mar

Writing Opportunity – a member of Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland? Planning to attend Folk Education Development Day at Cecil Sharp House, London on 4 Mar? Write a review for our website and receive a writer’s fee. Contact us for details at info@tdfs.org by 3 Mar.

*

3 Mar

Carnival Ceilidh hosted by the Edinburgh University New Scotland Country Dance Society. Held at Upper Hall, Edinburgh. Bring your best costume.

*

3 Mar

Bimonthly E-Newsletter – exclusive to Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland subscribers. Join our mailing list and subscribe now.  

*

4 Mar

Hornpipe Dance Workshop in aid of the RNLI hosted by the Edinburgh University New Scotland Country Dance Society. Held at Quaker Studio, Edinburgh

*

4 Mar
Spring Ball hosted by Glasgow University Scottish Country Dance Club Held at Bearsdan Community Hall, Glasgow
*

4 Mar

Folk Education Development Day:Teaching Folk Dance in Schools curated by our friends at Folk Education Network of English Folk Dance and Song Society at Cecil Sharp House, London. FREE

*

4 Mar + 11 Mar + 18 Mar + 25 Mar

West African – a drop-in dance class led by Raquel Ribes. Held at Dance Base, Edinburgh. Cost per class from £9

*

4 Mar + 11 Mar + 18 Mar + 25 Mar

Authentic Argentine Tango – a drop-in dance class led by Ani Tchakmakdjian. Held at Dance Base, Edinburgh. Cost per class from £9

*

4 Mar

Trad Dance Night with Mairi Campbell’s Lismore Dance Band. Held at Lismore, Isle of Lismore. FREE. Donations welcome.

*

5 Mar + 19 Mar

Hip Hop/Breakin’ – an open practice session for breakers, hip hoppers, lockers, poppers, waackers, housers and freestylers. Dancers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Held at Dance Base, Edinburgh. Cost per session: £2.50

*

5 Mar

Sunday Social with Dunedin Dancers with live music by Ewan Galloway. Held at Craigmillar Park Church Hall, Edinbugh. Tickets from £5

*

5 Mar

Dance Through The Decades – a celebration over Zoom of 100 years through Scottish music and dance hosted by the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society. FREE

*

6 Mar + 16 Mar
Dance Callers’ Chat  – regular callers’ chats over Zoom hosted by dance caller Lisa Heywood. The group is open to all styles of dance as long as there’s a caller. Opportunities for peer learning, reflection and discussions of specific topics. Free. Sign up required. 
*

9 Mar + 16 Mar

Bulgarian Dance Workshops for beginners and advanced hosted by Hop Trop, Edinburgh. Led by Ariana Stoyanova and Mirela. Held at Dance Base, Edinburgh. FREE

*

10-11 Mar

The Sacrifice – featuring live music on stage, this dance show is inspired by Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring and the uniquely rhythmic and expressive movements of ‘Tswana’ the traditional dance of Botswana. Showing at the Festival Theatre, Edinburgh. Tickets from £19

*

11 Mar 

Ceilidh with dance caller Ken Gourlay accompanied by his ceilidh band. Held at Lauriston Hall, Edinburgh. Tickets from £10. FREE to NHS staff

*
15 Mar
Dance Professionals Fund – If you have worked for three years in total in ballet or contemporary dance (dancer, dance teacher, choreographer) you should be eligible for support. Traditional and social dance forms including South Asian, ballroom and street dance will also be considered. Apply for this round by 15 Mar
*
15–16 Mar
University Dance Performance organised by the The University of Edinburgh and Edinburgh University Students’ Association at Pleasance Theatre, Edinburgh featuring step and Highland dance
*
17 Mar
75th Anniversary Dance hosted by the Edinburgh University New Scotland Country Dance Society
*

17 Mar

Mbangilu – a sharing of our Traditional Dance Residency following Kalubi Mukengela’s research from 13-16 Mar at Dance Base, Edinburgh in the traditional Luba and Kuba dances of the Democratic Republic of Congo. In collaboration with drummer Nemo Ganguli. FREE but booking required. READ MORE

*

17 Mar

Anniversary Dance  – Edinburgh University New Scotland Country Dance Society are celebrating their 75th anniversary this year. Fun, celebratory cake and live music by Iain MacPhail’s Band at Lauriston Hall, Edinburgh

*

18 Mar
Spring Dance – hosted by Dunedin Dancers with Susan MacFadyen and her band. Held at Reed Memorial Church, Edinburgh. Sign up required
 *
19 Mar
Advanced Country Dance – an afternoon hosted by Dunedin Dancers at Craigmillar Park Church, Edinburgh. Sign up required
*

22 Mar

Job Opportunity – could you be the Head of Dance for Health and Wellbeing at Dance Base, Edinburgh? Salary: £34,800 per annum. Contract: Full time, 35 hours per week. Apply by 22 Mar

*

24 Mar

Centenary Dance – celebrate the Centenary of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society with live music by Ewan Galloway and his Scottish Dance Band. Held at St Cuthbert’s Parish Church, Edinburgh. Join waiting list

*

25 Mar

Duets – exhibition preview of Gabriel Schmitz’ first solo show in Scotland featuring a live duet of trad dance and drawing as part of Pomegranates 2023 festival. Held at the Storytelling Court of Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh. FREE but booking required. READ MORE

*

25 Mar

Ceilidh with dance caller Ken Gourlay accompanied by his ceilidh band. Held at Greyfriars Charteris Centre, Edinburgh. Tickets from £10. FREE to NHS staff.

*

25 Mar

Alba Social – a fun afternoon of dancing hosted by a group of young Scottish country dancers. Held at Jordanhill Parish Church, Glasgow. FREE to under aged 12 years. 12-18 years: £2. Over 18 years: £5

*

25 Mar

Centenary Concert – celebrate the wonderful music Royal Scottish Country Dance Society love to dance to with live performances from Muriel Johnstone, Pete Clark, Tim Macdonald and Peter Shand. Held at Canongate Kirk, Edinburgh. Tickets: £10

*

25 Mar

The Ball – the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society invites members from around the world to join 2023 Centenary celebrations at a special Ball hosted in Edinburgh’s Assembly Rooms. Join waiting list

*

26 Mar

Scratch Night – a platform for showcasing dance work-in-progress being made in Scotland. Curated by independent artist Lewis Normand, this evening will feature work by Max Evans, David Yates, Anya Sirina and Marios Ento-Engkolo. Tickets from £6.

*

26 Mar – 1 May

Duets – Gabriel Schmitz’ first solo show in Scotland featuring duets of dance and drawing as part of Pomegranates 2023 festival. Held at the Storytelling Court of Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh. FREE. READ MORE

*

28 Mar

Live Duet – a live duet of dance and drawing featuring Pomegranates 2023 festival artist-inresidence Gabriel Schmitz. Held at the Goethe-Institut, Glasgow. FREE but booking requiered. READ MORE

*

28 Mar

Nice’n’Easy – a fun evening with a programme of popular dances that is suitable for everyone. Hosted by Royal Scottish Country Dance Society. Held at Barclay Viewforth, Edinburgh. Tickets: £5

*

31 Mar

Catch the Rhythmic Orkney Tide and Ride – Jennifer Wrigley‘s new piece of music featuring Fèis Lochabair Orkney Dancers. Held at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. 

 

*

Title image by Simon Berger/unsplash as featured in our Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland commission Beira and Bride by Donald Smith