Delaware Valley RSCDS: Classes & Socials
Class Locations & Times
Social Dance Locations and Times
Step & Highland Classes
Which kind of class is right for you?
Prices
Maps for Branch Dance Locations
New to Scottish Country Dancing?
We offer several classes for that welcome new dancers:Newark, Del.,
Media (Delaware County)
Crosslands (Chester County)
Chestnut Hill (Philadelphia)
Cherry Hill
Please arrive a few mintues early for the first night of class in September. If you are starting later in the year, it is helpful to contact the class teacher before attending.
- Wear flat, flexible-soled shoes -- ballet or jazz shoes are best.
- Women generally wear skirts that have enough width for vigorous movement.
- No partner is necessary.
- Most of us aren't of Scottish background--we just like the music and the dance and hope you will too!
Class Locations & Times
Media, PA: Social Classes
held Monday evenings September through May 7:30-9:00 pm at 116 W. Baltimore Ave., Media, PA 19063, across from the Towne House restuarant. Parking is on the street or in city parking lots one block away. As you approach the building, go up the steps and in the door on the left. Sangha Space is on the second floor. This social class is intended for those with some knowledge of basic Scottisch country dance steps and figures. Class taught by Cecily Selling.
Moylan, PA: Experienced Class
(2nd and 4th Fridays) and Moylan Advanced Class
(1st Fridays) are taught at the home of Alfred and Eleanor Hurd in Moylan near Media. All classes start at 8:00 PM and are followed by tea. Check out the double donut parking protocol. For directions to the house: Alfred Hurd, 610-565-2110 Advanced Class: Steven RuscheExperienced Class: Melissa Shaner and Tine MacKay
Newark, DE, Combined Class
begins at 7:30 PM every Monday (note early starting time)-- all summer included! Classes are held at St. Thomas' Church on the corner of South College and West Park Place.
The first part of the evening is for new dancers. See below for the monthly Newark Social Dance. In accordance with the wishes of the church, there is no class fee, but money is collected at socials for the church's expenses. This class runs the Delaware Ball in lieu of payments to the Branch. Dancing shoes are required. For information contact the class teacher: Siân Frick at (302) 368-2318, sianfrick@gmail.com
Driving directions from I-95: Take the 896 North exit towards Newark and the University of Delaware. Stay on South College Avenue which is the road you exit onto (starts off as 896N, but ignore 896 when it turns left), past the University stadium, the Chrysler plant, over the railroad bridge. After the traffic light at East/West Park Place, the church is the first building on the left. There's also a SEPTA train which leaves 30th St about 5:45 and arrives in Newark just before 7pm. Walk 3-4 blocks towards town and you'll see the church on your L, opposite the University's brick wall.
Chestnut Hill
RegisterThis introductory series of 8 classes meets Tuesdays at 7:30-9:00 PM. Check the regsitration form to find out when the next 8-week series starts. Geoffrey Selling and Katherine Giacoletti will instruct. We need you to pre-register for this class here.
Class meets in the parish hall of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 22 E. Chestnut Hill Ave., Philadelphia, PA
Bi-College Class
meets during the school year on Wednesday nights (starting Sept. 1) from 7:30-9:30 PM, followed by tea.
This class welcomes community members but is primarily oriented towards teaching college students. Class website: bartik.brynmawr.edu/orgs/scountry/
If you are not a college student, please consult with the teacher before attending: Chrissy Gore or Bree Humphries.
Swarthmore, PA Combined Class.
meets during the Swarthmore College school year. This class is oriented towards teaching college students, but welcomes experienced Scottish dancers from the community. Tuesday nights, 7:00pm (English Country is same time on Thursdays). Folk Dance Club & Class website:
www.sccs.swarthmore.edu/org/folkdance/
If you are not a college student, please consult teacher Terry Harvey before attending.
Cherry Hill, NJ.
8 PM to 10 PM at Cadbury on Route 38 in Cherry Hill. Classes are weekly on Wednesdays from September through May - with the exception of major holidays. Beginners welcome. Susan Holmes is the teacher. For information: Mary McKillop at 609-654-3638 or Susan Holmes 610-623-7692 (home) 215-448-1192 (work).
Crosslands General Class.
is held Thursdays, and is open to all. Experienced Class
is every Monday. Crosslands Retirement Community is on Route 926 (Street Road) in Chester County, just east of Route 52. Dances begin at 7:15pm, in the Sports Room downstairs in the main building. Members of the Branch are urged to come visit! Information: Jeanne Wilson, 610-388-0192. Ladies' Step and Highland.
If you are interested in Ladies' Step dancing or Highland, there are occasional classes in the former, and unofficial sessions of the latter. Contact Kate Nealley or Kathy Giacoletti.
Social Dance Locations & Times
Social dancing has a long tradition in the Delaware Valley, bringing together dancers from all corners of the Branch to dance and socialize together. Out of town visitors are also most welcome! Dances are walked through. If you have completed one semester of dancing, you are ready!
This year we have scheduled most social dance events scheduled for 2nd and 4th Saturday evenings. Check our calendar for locations and times, and Maps for Branch Dance Locations.
Newark, Delaware Social Dances
are held the last Monday of the month at St. Thomas' Church. (At the northwest corner of College & West Park Place Avenues.) All are invited to join in the dancing, which lasts from 8 - 9:30 PM. Potluck tea follows at a volunteer's house. A "kitty" of money is collected to help defray the church's expenses. Information: Siân Frick, (302) 368-2318.
Special Social Events:
Each year the Branch runs the Delaware Ball (mid autumn), Hogmanay New Year's Ball, and a Spring Ball. Swarthmore College students host an English Scottish Ball on the Saturday closest to Valentine's Day, and the Bi-Co class usually has parties at the beginning and end of the dance year. On even years, the Branch hosts a Ceilidh on a Saturday in late January. These events are open to all dancers from the Branch and beyond, at all levels of skill. Check the Events page and Calendar page for more details.
Which Type of Class is the Right One?
The Delaware Valley Branch is blessed with many active classes. We offer four types of dance class: Basic, Experienced, Advanced, and Social. Some smaller groups offer a Combined Class which encompasses a range of skill levels.
Basic Class
: Newcomers and those with less than a year's Scottish dancing experience are invited to join our Basic classes, or "Combined" Classes which include Basic instruction. Here, you learn the essentials of the ballroom dancing of Scotland: the figures which make up the dances, the step work, the giving of hands, and the etiquette and sociability of Scottish country dancing. Most people are ready to move on to an Experienced class after two semesters of Basic class. Those with other folk, country, or ballroom experience may join the experienced and social classes sooner. Your teacher will be able to tell you when you are ready.Experienced Class
:Can you demonstrate crossover mirror reels? How about "set and turn corners, closing reels?" Are rights and lefts, allemandes, and poussettes old friends? Welcome to the Experienced class (dancing shoes required). Here, you learn general repertoire dances and those coming up our next ball. There is more emphasis on phrasing and polishing known figures, on controlled use of steps, and on learning more advanced figures.Advanced Class
: If you feel you need more polish than the Experienced class alone can give you, come get a workout in the Advanced class. Ask your teacher if you are ready. This is a once-a-month class for those interested in rigorous work on their footwork, handing, phrasing, posture, and body control. A demanding repertoire of dances and familiarity with all standard figures is required.Social Class
: Social dance classes give just enough teaching to enable dancers to enjoy the program of 8 to 10 dances, mostly of an easy and intermediate level. Dances will be talked and walked as needed to familiarize the class with geography and any special formations. Little emphasis will be placed on footwork or fine points of technique. Prices
Class and Event Fees
- Class Drop-In Fee: $8 per evening if your membership doesn't include classes.
- Social Dances and Parties: $8 ($10 for non-members, $6 Students).
- Prices for once-a-year events such as Hogmanay, Spring Ball, Delaware Ball, workshops, and the Ceilidh are priced separately, with discounts for members.