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Scottish dance books

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A Social History of Scottish Dance: Ane Celestial Recreation

Emmerson, George S., A Social History of Scottish Dance: Ane Celestial Recreation, McGill-Queen's University Press, Montreal and London, 1972.

ISBN: 0-7735-0087-1

5 stars -- worth buying if you are interested in a detailed history of Scottish dancing

This book covers the history of Scottish dancing from its origins in the Middle Ages to modern Scottish dancing. If you are interested in the history of Scottish dancing, it is worth getting.

One thing to note is that this book is extensive in its coverage of the history of Scottish dancing, it is by no means complete. For example, in term of medieval and Renaissance times, my web pages cover some sources which this book doesn't.

Scottish Ceilidh Dancing

Ewart, David and Ewart, May, Scottish Ceilidh Dancing, Mainstream Publishing, Edinburgh, 1996.

ISBN: 1-8515-8845-0

Buy Scottish Ceilidh Dancing at Amazon.com

Traditional Dancing in Scotland

Flett, J. P., and Flett, T. M., Traditional Dancing in Scotland, Routledge and Kegan Paul, London, Boston, Melbourne and Henley, 1964.

ISBN: 0-7100-1369-8

ISBN: 0-7102-0731-X

5 stars -- worth buying if you are interested in dances which are different (and older) than Royal Scottish Country Dancing

This book is interesting because both this book and the next book (by the same authors) are the results of field-work to discover what dancing used to be like. They interviewed numerous elderly people in the 1950's and 60's to see what they remembered of dancing in their childhood. The dances and the dance steps are different than what is currently taught in the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society.

Traditional Step-Dancing in Scotland

5 stars -- worth buying if you are interested in an older form of Scottish step-dancing

Again, this book, like the previous book, is a result of the authors' field work in the 1950's and 60's talking to elderly people about what they remembered of dancing from their childhood.

Cape Breton Ceilidh

MacGillivray, Allister, Cape Breton Ceilidh, Sea-Cape Music Ltd., 1988.

Buy Cape Breton Ceilidh at Amazon.com

The Scottish Ceilidh Collection for Fiddlers: Volumes 1 and 2

Martin, Christine (compiler) and Huges, Anne (Compiler), The Scottish Ceilidh Collection for Fiddlers: Volumes 1 and 2, 1999.

Buy The Scottish Ceilidh Collection for... at Amazon.com.

101 Scottish Country Dances

Milligan, Jean C., 101 Scottish Country Dances, Scotia Books, Great Britain, 1967.

4 stars -- worth buying if you are looking for a good collection of Scottish country dances

This book is a good standard book of Scottish country dances. It has descriptions of steps and figures in the beginning of the book. The majority of the book is descriptions of Scottish country dances. The descriptions are done fairly well. Typically, each dance will have at least one diagram for the figures. There is no history of the dances given, unlike some of the other books.

Scotland's Music

Let's have a Ceilidh

Shepherd, Robbie, Let's have a Ceilidh, Canongate Press Ltd., Edinburgh, 1992.

ISBN: 0 86241 412 1

3 stars -- worth buying for beginners with an interest in learning how to dance, plus some history and music

This book has a collection of a wide variety of dances. Each dance has a brief history, together with the steps and suggested music. There is also a section in the back which has some sheet music for the dances.

The book pulls together standard dances from a variety of sources. For example, you get dances such as "The Virginia Waltz" and "The Eightsome Reel". As an overview (or for a beginner), it is okay. As a more experienced dancer, however, I would look for a book which has more of a focus. For example, Scottish Country dances (or even more specifically, Scottish Country dances in a particular format like "Longwise sets of 4").

Buy Let's Have a Ceilidh at Amazon.com.


Comments? scott.machaffie@gte.net