If you are looking for a dance form that’s fun, social, mentally stimulating, and you do not need to bring a partner to attend, look no further than the Skagit Scottish Country Dancers.

Scottish Country Dancing is the traditional social dancing of Scotland with roots going back to the French court dances of the 15th and 16th century, and has developed into a modern dance form that all ages and abilities enjoy. The “center-of-the-universe” for Scottish Country Dancing is the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society’s (RSCDS) headquarters in Edinburgh, Scotland. Scottish Country Dances are danced in sets, either lengthwise, or in a square set. Many people are familiar with square sets, as American Square Dancing uses this type of set. It is said that 50 percent of Scottish Country Dancing is the dance, and the other half, the music. During a dance, Scottish Country Dance Bands will use a variety of instruments to play the traditional Celtic music: fiddle, accordion, piano, bodhran (drum), guitar, flute and the Irish/Scottish whistle. The music is so high-spirited and upbeat, it is impossible to sit still.

You certainly do not need to be Scottish to partake in this dance form. To illustrate, you can visit Tokyo, Japan, and find one of the world’s largest and most enthusiastic RSCDS branches! Scottish Country Dance groups are found all over the world, from Oak Harbor to South Africa, Australia and Singapore. Scottish Country Dancing is very social, and provides a great forum to meet people and make new friends. Both men and women, from novice to experienced, enjoy this family-oriented activity. Furthermore, almost every member of the family can participate. Scottish Country Dancing is multi-generational, so young people have the opportunity to socialize with and get to know the older generation, which, in our society, is a privilege that few young people enjoy today. (Classes in Oak Harbor /Anacortes accept children 10 and older at the discretion of the instructor. Please call for details.) For those of us who like a mental challenge, Scottish Country Dancing is just the thing. Dancers are constantly learning new figures and formations. Furthermore, a practice session offers cardiovascular exercise, and can be low-impact, depending on degree of exertion, so older people can enjoy this lively art form.

Weekly classes provide instruction. Ceilidhs, (a Scots Gaelic word for “visit”) a more casual party with entertainment as well as dancing, are interspersed throughout the year. There are monthly social dances, afternoon tea dances and the occasional ball. Most people have a pretty good idea of what a ball is. It is a formal affair, with glittering gowns and tuxedos with satin lapels, right? A Scottish Country Dance Ball is formal, but usually, the laddies wear their kilts, if they own one, and the lassies wear dresses, and if they like, a tartan sash! Oftentimes, a ball will be the culmination of a weekend workshop. Scottish Country Dance groups will host a workshop, and bring nationally or internationally known teachers, to provide dancers with an opportunity to learn from someone other than their weekly instructor. Regardless, all teachers of Scottish Country Dancing must be accredited by the RSCDS, and the teachers-to-be are put through rigorous training programs, thereby assuring dancers they are being taught correctly.

If Scottish Country Dancing piques your interest, the Skagit Scottish Country Dancers host weekly classes in Anacortes and Oak Harbor on Monday nights at 7p.m., starting Sept. 8. The group includes a wide range of ages, skill levels, and dancers come from as far south as Arlington and Camano Island, to as far north as Bellingham. The Anacortes Class is held at the Depot Arts Center on R Avenue, with the Oak Harbor Class at the Senior Center, 51 SE Jerome. Call Di Evans at (360) 679-5177, or Diane Danielson at (360) 416-0166 or go to www.skagitscd.org.