ABOUT
Our Background
Welcome to our About page. Here, you can learn more about RSCDS Edmonton Caledonian, a club dedicated to Scottish country dancing based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. We offer yearly memberships, weekly classes, and annual events celebrating Robbie Burns, and our reknowned Weekend Workshop & Ball, held every February.
Our mission is to share our love of Scottish Country Dance, increase community engagement, and raise awareness of RSCDS & the Scottish dance culture.
Our club was established with a passion for Scottish country dancing in 1962. We are committed to providing our members with a fun and engaging environment to learn and improve their skills. Join us and become a part of our community today!
RSCDS Edmonton Caledonian is a club dedicated to Scottish country dancing based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. We offer yearly memberships, weekly classes, and annual events like Burns night and a Weekend Workshop & Ball. Our mission is to share our love of Scottish Country Dance, increase community engagement, and raise awareness of RSCDS & Scottish country dance culture. Our commitment to our members is unwavering, and we strive to provide them with a fun and engaging environment to learn and improve their skills.
History
Our Club's History
The Edmonton Caledonian Country Dance Society (ECCDS) has its roots in the University of Alberta Scottish Country Dance Club, formed as a con-profit society in 1962. Two professors, Peter Barton & Jeff Weston, taught weekly classes & in 1974, a team of demonstration dancers represented our club at Expo in Spokane, Washington, USA.
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The club was incorporated under The Societies Act in 1976. In 1978 club members were introduced to the Royal Scottish Dance Society (RSCDS), our society becoming an affilitate member at the time. In 1981 the U of A Club moved off campus to become the ECCDS.
Today we remain primarily a teaching club, furthering the standards set by the RSCDS in 1923.
RSCDS was formed in Glasgow, Scotland in November of that year, by Miss Jean Milligan and Mrs. Stewart of Fasnacloich. Their concern was two-fold: 1) that Scottish dance would be lost to modern dance forms if not preserved somehow; and 2) to standardize the traditional figures and dances.
Scottish country dances and their music were culled from old manuscripts and papers and from people old enough to remember the ceilidhs held in homes and at social gatherings. Miss Milligan relied, especially, on her own mother's excellent memory of dances and figures. The first collection of dances was produced shortly after the society's inception and included The Triumph and Flowers of Edinburgh. All dances were traditional in step and formation, some dating back over 200 years.
In 1953 Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II became the patron of the SCDS, hence the RSCDS That title is borne proudly today by branches and affiliate member clubs around the world.
RSCDS Edmonton Caledonian is a club dedicated to Scottish country dancing based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. We offer yearly memberships, weekly classes, and annual events like Burns night and a Weekend Workshop & Ball. Our mission is to share our love of Scottish Country Dance, increase community engagement, and raise awareness of RSCDS & Scottish country dance culture. Our commitment to our members is unwavering, and we strive to provide them with a fun and engaging environment to learn and improve their skills.