A hundred young dancers from as far afield as France, Germany, Iceland and Japan descended on Cambridge for the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society’s annual Spring Fling.
The weekend of dance classes and balls is held in a different European city every year.
Saskia Frisby, Spring Fling committee chair, said: “The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society (RSCDS) was founded in Edinburgh in 1923, but now has local branches all around the world, including a thriving branch in Cambridge.
“While Scottish Country Dancing offers fun, fitness, and friendship for all ages, from primary school children to those in their 90s, Spring Fling is a weekend especially for dancers under the age of 35.
“Young dancers look forward to visiting a new city to reconnect with old friends every spring. There is also a satellite event, Spring Fringe, for dancers over 35.”
The dancers took part in classes at Hills Road Sixth Form College and learnt from a variety of teachers – some local to Cambridge, others invited from Oxford, London and Dumfries.
The morning classes focused on traditional Scottish Country Dancing, which shares elements with ceilidh dancing and ballet.
Saskia continued: “While some Scottish country dances have been danced since the 1700s, Scottish country dancing is a living tradition and, in the afternoon, the young dancers had the opportunity to learn how to choreograph brand new dances.
“Dancers also tried Highland dancing, a competitive dance form that evolved from battlefield displays of strength, and Scottish step dancing, an elegant solo dance style that was revived from historical manuscripts and surged in popularity during the pandemic when dancing with others was impossible.”
Meanwhile, the Spring Fringe dancers enjoyed classes at Storey’s Field Centre, Eddington. In the evening there were balls held at St Barnabas’ Church, Mill Road.
The Cambridge and District Branch of the RSCDS runs beginners’ classes every Tuesday.
Cambridge University Strathspey and Reel Club also runs a mixed-ability class on Monday during term time. Visit rscds-cambridge.org and cusarc.wixsite.com/cusarc.
