Earlier this year, a group of 16 dancers primarily from Fergus, Ontario flew to Scotland to spend ten days touring and dancing, based out of Blairgowrie.
This was a reciprocal visit as dancers from the Ericht Scottish Dance Club of Blairgowrie visited Fergus in 2005 for a dance holiday.
A full daytime itinerary provided participants with an opportunity to discover the beauty and diversity of Perthshire. Some of the highlights were Drummond Gardens, Balmoral Castle, Cortachy Castle, Scone Palace, Bruar Falls and a cruise on Loch Katrine.
A visit to Edinburgh provided an occasion to visit the RSCDS Headquarters. Excellent fish and chips were enjoyed in Anstruther while touring St Andrews and East Neuk.
The scenery while travelling to the various sights was spectacular, the freshness of spring with the trees newly leafing, bluebells in bloom along with gorse and broom highlighted the rolling hills.
A civic reception was held in the visitors’ honour by the Perth and Kinross council and the twinning committee of Blairgowrie. The guests were treated to a buffet supper and ceilidh with music by Neil Copeland and Maureen Rutherford.
The group attended class in Dundee and St. Andrews where it danced to music by George Meikle. Luke Brady played his accordion for an evening of dancing at the Royal Hotel.
A dance, with music provided by Colin Dewar in the Blairgowrie town hall, attracted more than 120 dancers.
The dancers in Scotland are very fortunate to have numerous musicians in their midst. But the dancing did not stop there; the stay concluded with a dinner and ceilidh in the Angus Hotel, with music by John White.
The Fergus group thanked the Ericht group for its hospitality.
Many friendships were renewed and new ones made to be furthered
Anyone wishing to join in the fun and learn Scottish country dancing, classes will begin a new session in September, Friday evenings at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church. For information, contact Lou or Shirley Emslie at 519 843-2145.
