May Day, known as Beltane in Gaelic, marks the beginning of summer in the Scottish Calendar. Yet some still argue that the Scots are a pessimistic nation… Whatever the weather, traditionally life moved outdoors on 1 May after the long dark days of winter and TRACS is marking the celebration this year in traditional and … Continued

The Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland & The University of Edinburgh present ‘The Art of Treepling’, a mini festival of percussive dance culminating the First Footing residency with international dance artist Nic Gareiss.  TODAY, on International Dance Day, the grand culmination of the First Footing residency – The Art of Treepling – is announced. The … Continued

The First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, issued an open letter to EU citizens living in Scotland on 5 April 2019. Following up from her original open letter in 2016, the message of welcome remains, stating: ‘Scotland is your home, you are welcome here, and you are valued. You play a crucial role in Scotland’s … Continued

This Easter Saturday 20 April, swap your chocolate bunnies and easter eggs for some pickled herring and sailor’s yarn, as Jan Bee Brown, also known as Captain Annie, opens her treasure trove of nasty nautical tales at ‘Worse Things Happen at Sea’. If you are looking to keep your family entertained during the Easter holidays, … Continued

‘Canada-Scotland: Coast to Coast’ is the International Exchange for this year’s Scottish International Storytelling Festival (18-31 October). The first leg has just ended with a tour in Canada by Scottish storytellers Jess Smith and Seoras Macpherson, which began at the Toronto International Storytelling Festival where Festival Director, Donald Smith, was also on hand to meet … Continued

A celebration of Basque Traditional Dance in the most contemporary way possible. Friday 26 April | 7:30pm | Lauriston Hall, Edinburgh “Dantza” is a musical feature, turning on Basque dances and their ancestral symbolism. The project yokes the talents of director Telmo Esnal, artist and sculptor Koldobika Jauregui, and scholar and folklorist Juan Antonio Urbeltz. … Continued

SAVE THE DATE Friday 7 – Sunday 9 June @ venues across Edinburgh   A mini-festival of percussive dance culminating the First Footing residency including public workshops, masterclasses, work-in-progress showings, dance-for-camera showings, panels and performances with Sandy Silva, Colin Dunne and artist-in-residence Nic Gareiss. First Footing is a tailor-made residency rooted in collaboration across dance … Continued

Type: Full-Time, Permanent Location: Edinburgh Salary: £33,000 – £35,000 Closing Date: Noon, Tuesday 30th April 2019   Job Description The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society (RSCDS) exists to promote and develop Scottish country dancing (SCD) both in Scotland and worldwide for the benefit of present and future generations, and aims to achieve its objectives by: • Promoting and encouraging … Continued

SUNDOWN SONG NIGHTS @ THE GLAD CAFE, 24TH APRIL 2019 RAB NOAKES & CEITLIN LILIDH Tickets here On the 24th of April, Rab Noakes headlines Sundown Song Nights at the Glad Cafe. It is no exaggeration to call Rab Noakes a legend. I first saw him perform live at the ceilidh place in Ullapool when I was a teenager … Continued

This residency provides artists with an opportunity to undertake creative exploration rooted in, or influenced by, traditional Scottish dance and culture. The Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland and Dance Base have come together on this because we know that traditional artists are interested in exploring their creative practice, and vice versa, contemporary artists are enthused … Continued