Oban & Lorn Scottish Country Dance Branch

07/06/2026

Local to Oban or visiting? Join us tomorrow evening for a fun, friendly evening of Scottish Country Dancing.
No experience? Don't worry! Our lovely teacher, Sue, will show you the basic steps and we will walk through every dance.
Our members will be delighted to welcome you and partner you in dancing, if needed.

03/06/2026

Local to Oban or visiting? You are invited to join us for a fun, friendly evening of Scottish Country Dancing.
No experience? Don't worry! Our lovely teacher, Sue, will show you the basic steps and we will walk through every dance.
Our members will be delighted to welcome you and partner you in dancing, if needed. Hope to see you in next Monday!

10/05/2026

Our first Summer Country Dance of the year takes place tomorrow, Monday 11th May. A fun evening of dancing, all welcome! No experience? Don't worry! Our lovely teacher, Sue, will show you the basic steps and we will walk through every dance. Our members will be delighted to welcome you and partner you in dancing, if needed. Hope to see you in May!

25/04/2026

Its that time of year again! You are invited to join us for a fun, friendly evening of Scottish Country Dancing. No experience? Don't worry! Our lovely teacher, Sue, will show you the basic steps and we will walk through every dance. Our members will be delighted to welcome you and partner you in dancing, if needed. Hope to see you in May!

16/02/2026

JOIN US TONIGHT! Beginners welcome! A sociable evening of Scottish Country Dancing! 💃🕺 No partner required, but you're welcome to bring a friend! All ages and abilities welcome with a dedicated beginner's class at 7.45 pm where you'll learn basic steps and learn 3 or 4 dances!
Every Monday at Glencruitten Church Centre until March.
Beginners 7.45-8.45pm, followed by General class 9-10pm
Contact Sue Porter on 07753 593668 for more info.

08/02/2026

Join our Scottish Country Dancing Beginners class! 💃🕺 No partner required, but you're welcome to bring a friend! All ages and abilities welcome with a dedicated beginner's class at 7.45 pm where you'll learn basic steps and learn 3 or 4 dances!

Every Monday at Glencruitten Church Centre until end March.
Beginners 7.45-8.45pm, followed by General class 9-10pm
Contact Sue Porter on 07753 593668 for more info.

05/02/2026

Thinking of summer and butterflies?

Feb 5 - Scottish Country Dance of the Day, "Monarch Butterfly" for Western Monarch Wintering Days! 🧡 🖤 🤍 🧡 👑 🦋 🦋 🦋

“Just living is not enough,” said the butterfly, “one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.”

~ "The Butterfly", Hans Christian Andersen, 1861

And dancing! Don't forget the dancing!

One of the most recognizable and flashiest of large butterflies, the aptly named Monarch is worthy of this tribute dance devised by Marilyn Stocker, who writes:

"The dance was devised after the meeting to choose the 1994 Asilomar Ball dances. Since Pacific Grove is the home of not only Asilomar but also the Monarch butterfly, the named seemed appropriate. The Muriel Johnstone music has that busy motion that reminds one of the motion of butterflies!"

This butterfly-busy reel mimics the seemingly random path of a butterfly in flight, with petronellas, meanwhiles, and arches!

Each year, tens of millions of monarch butterflies migrate up to 3,000 miles southward from cold northeastern United States and Canada down to warmer climes in Mexico's Highlands.

They have several favourite rest stops on the way. In California, some Monarchs cut their journey short and overwinter in the Eucalyptus and pine trees in Butterfly Grove, Pismo Beach and Pacific Grove, home of the aforesaid Asilomar Scottish Dance weekend. The monarchs, return every year and can be viewed sleeping in the thousands together in their favourite trees.

Similarly, devoted dancers travel worldwide in autumn to dance at the historic conference grounds, situated a skip-step from the ocean on California's Pacific coastline next to the historic towns of Monterey and Salinas, made famous as the setting of "Grapes of Wrath" and "Of Mice and Men" 20th century Pulitzer prize winner John Steinbeck (who framed the latter novel from the title and theme of Robert Burns' famous poem.

In both caterpillar and butterfly form, monarchs warn off predators with their own tartan equivalent — blazing fields of color crisply divided by bold black lines — nature’s unmistakable signal: “Unpleasant. Proceed at your peril.”

So kilt or sash up in your flashiest tartan for this dance, dancers! Let those high-contrast hues do the talking. In the spirit of the monarch, your colors should clearly warn dancing friends (albeit pleasantly): “Approach with caution — this reel may contain sharp turns, sharper footwork, and absolutely no apologies.” 🧡 🖤 🤍 🧡 👑 🦋 🦋 🦋

For more related facts and folklore along with dancing details, visit the website at: https://www.scottishcountrydanceoftheday.com/daysoftheyear/monarch-butterfly

25/01/2026

Join us for a sociable evening of Scottish Country Dancing! 💃🕺 No partner required, but you're welcome to bring a friend! All ages and abilities welcome with a dedicated beginner's class at 7.45 pm where you'll learn basic steps and learn 3 or 4 dances!

Every Monday at Glencruitten Church Centre until March.
Beginners 7.45-8.45pm, followed by General class 9-10pm
Contact Sue Porter on 07753 593668 for more info.

25/01/2026

A dance to celebrate Rabbie Burns ...

Jan 25 - Scottish Country Dance of the Day, "Chieftain o' the Puddin' Race" for Burns Night! 🤎 🤎 🤎 🤪 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🥃

"Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o' the pudding-race!
Aboon them a' ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy o' a grace
As lang's my arm."

~ Address to a Haggis, Robert Burns, 1786

Don't be rude to your haggis!

Address your haggis with the respect it deserves, for this humble dish is both nourishing and steeped in tradition as we celebrate Scotland’s National Poet, Robert Burns.

Inspired by the revelry of countless Burns Suppers, this 32-bar strathspey is an excellent choice for introducing reels of three. It even includes a circulating allemande with which you can make use o your "lang arms", offering a relaxed pace to digest all the traditional dishes—including "you know who!"

Crafted from suet, spices, onions, oatmeal, and a sheep’s pluck—heart, liver, and lungs—boiled within a sheep’s stomach, the haggis has sparked spirited debate among food historians over its origins. Yet, despite its contested history, this dish remains undeniably and proudly Scottish, cherished not only for its regional ingredients but also for the good humor and reverence it inspires.

Other variations, though less renowned, include Sweden’s Pölsa, Norway’s Hakkemat, Russia’s Niania, and Aragon’s Chireta. But tonight marks the end of Haggis Hunting season, so if you’ve been fortunate enough to catch one for your toasts and feasts, be sure to honor its plump, sonsie face with celebratory zeal—and perhaps this tribute dance! After all, it’s “offaly” delightful. To the haggis! 🤎 🤎 🤎 🤪 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🥃

For more related facts and folklore along with dancing details, visit the website at: https://www.scottishcountrydanceoftheday.com/daysoftheyear/chieftain-o'-the-puddin'-race

18/01/2026

Come along tomorrow evening for a sociable evening of Scottish Country Dancing! 💃🕺 No partner required, but you're welcome to bring a friend! All ages and abilities welcome with a dedicated beginner's class at 7.45 pm where you'll learn basic steps and learn 3 or 4 dances!

Every Monday at Glencruitten Church Centre until March.
Beginners 7.45-8.45pm, followed by General class 9-10pm
Contact Sue Porter on 07753 593668 for more info.