Taking part
Taking part – getting started & beyond?
Getting started
Berkamsted, like many clubs, encourages new dancers. We run an Introduction to Scottish Dancing course to get you started. The course will give you the confidence to participate in the club social evenings and, if you wish to expand your skills, to join our Improve your Dancing Classes. The course covers the key steps and formations that go to make up Scottish Country Dances and runs on Tuesday evenings for an hour. After the class you join other club members for refreshments, and then can participate in the social dancing taking place in the main hall. To start, you may only be able to join in one or two dances but over a relatively short time you will gain the skills to participate more fully, making new friends along the way. More experienced dancers are always willing to help and support others through unfamiliar dances so you can rest assured support will always be available.
We run two courses of 10 weeks each year: one starts in September and the other in January; details are on the calendar.
What you will need
Apart from your enthusiasm and a sense of fun, a pair of soft shoes will do to begin with; later you can invest in a pair of dancing shoes. You definitely do not need a partner – there will always be somebody to dance with you and during an evening you will dance with a number of different partners. Ladies may find it easier to dance in a skirt. Men, once they decide it’s for them, may want to acquire a kilt but that is not essential.
Once you’re into it!
As well as social dancing every Tuesday there are a number of more formal dances organized by the club, including our Highland Ball each February and Spring Dance in May. To help beginners participate fully in more formal dances we organise a Nice & Easy Dance in December. As part of club nights there is a ceilidh at Christmas time, Burns Night (of course) and during the summer there are Garden Dances. To help you progress, there are classes as well as a Day School in November. Many members also attend the dances of other clubs and societies locally, nationally and even internationally.
What it costs
The first two sessions of the introductory course are free; you need to see if you’re going to like it. After that there is a charge of £70 (Autumn) or £60 (Spring) for the programme of lessons (10 in total) which includes club membership until the next AGM which is in April. The lower cost in the Spring is because of the shorter period of club membership.
