Reviews

Where I grew up 'country dancing' meant three suspect men hitting each other with knobbly sticks to the accompaniment of a toothless accordion player. Thankfully the Scots are more enlightened. For the 53rd consecutive year the Royal (The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, Edinburgh Branch) bring a show to the Fringe, this time offering a varied program of traditional and more contemporary dances, interspersed with short instrumental pieces and song. The band are accomplished, the clarsach standing out in particular with its frail beauty. Siobhan Miller's voice soars through the solo pieces with the sort of serenity that drives men to write awful poetry. To the layman the country dances all start to blend into one, but the raw talent on display here is outstanding.

tw rating: 4/5

published: Aug-2007

Christopher Morphy-Godber