FAQs

RSCDS Edinburgh frequently asked questions

You can jump to the appropriate category for your question, or just browse them all if you’re not sure of which one:

General
Classes
Young Dancers
Still looking?

General

How can I sign up to your regular newsletter?

Please visit our Sign up form.

Where can I find details of the 2020 AGM?

We very much hope to be able to hold our Annual General Meeting later this year, however if it is not safe to meet in person then we may have to hold an online meeting. In the meantime, our Trustees Annual Report and Accounts to 31 March 2020 are available here. An agenda for the AGM, along with details on how to join the meeting remotely, if applicable, will be sent directly to members in due course.

Are there any updates on when we will be dancing again?

We hope to be dancing again as soon as it is safe to do so, and we have flexible plans in place to restart once we have confirmation of this. Stay up to date by signing up for our regular newsletter or follow us on Facebook for the latest information.

Can I renew my membership online?

Yes, of course. You can renew your membership online here.

How do I find information relating to other Scottish country dancing groups around Edinburgh?

We may have that information on our Dancers’ Diary page.

How do I find out more about Scottish country dancing elsewhere, not local to Edinburgh?

The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society (RSCDS), which is our parent body, provides this at the RSCDS world-wide website.

I don’t stay in the Edinburgh area, where can I find out about any local group?

The RSCDS world-wide site has a group finder site at RSCDS Branch and Group Finder.

Covid Safety Information

What should I do to help keep everyone safe?

We recommend the following: -

Sanitise your hands regularly during the class or event
Bring your own refreshments (if required)
Masks are not required to dance, but you may choose to wear one
Follow any instructions from our Covid Officer on the day

Please do not attend any of our classes and events if you have any Covid related symptoms

Classes

Do I need a partner?

No, Scottish country dancing is a social activity and you dance with different partners during a night of dancing.

What to wear?

Dancing can be energetic although you can put in as much or as little effort as you like. We recommend that you wear layers of clothes – possibly light trousers or a full skirt, a T shirt and something on top for warming up or the slower dances.

What shoes do I wear?

Dancing shoes come in many guises from ballet shoes to laced soft shoes and to those with a T bar. All proper Scottish country dancing shoes are very soft and comfortable, and can be bought from most dancing outlets and shops like Dancewear in Edinburgh (see adverts on our Home page, members usually receive a discount). Before you buy shoes, you might prefer to come along to the class in soft soled flat shoes (trainers are ideal) and see what your teacher suggests or what others are wearing.

How do I sign up?

You can register and pay online on the Classes page.

Can I save money?

Become a member of the RSCDS Edinburgh Branch. The pricing table shows that you save nearly 20% on class fees. You also gain many more benefits – see Membership. In addition, under 25s can apply for assistance with class fees from our Youth Fund. By attending two classes in the same term you’ll receive a 50% discount on the second class.

What else do I need to know?

• Teachers and musicians may change without notice due to availability. There may, on occasion, be a trainee teacher assisting with your class.
• No refunds are available, unless the class is cancelled by RSCDS Edinburgh.
• A class attendance is not transferable.
• Unless we hold your consent to do so or explicitly required to do so by UK law, it is RSCDS Edinburgh policy not to disclose information to third parties.

Still have questions?

Contact us.

Young dancers

What should we wear/bring with us to class?

• Dancing can be energetic so wear something comfortable and easy to move in.
  
  
• Scottish country dancing shoes are very soft and comfortable and can be bought from most dancing outlets and shops like Dancewear in Edinburgh. Before you buy shoes, you might prefer to come along to the class in soft soled flat shoes (trainers are ideal
  .
• Please bring a drink with you as dancing makes you very thirsty!

Drop off and collection

Parents are welcome to stay or drop off and pick up.

We won’t let the children leave the hall until a known adult has come to collect them.

Our Teachers

All out teachers are appropriately qualified to teach your child and have a recent Disclosure Scotland.

Class Procedure Policy

Our teaching staff will act responsibly to provide a safe environment and oversee the wellbeing of your child from the time they are handed over from the parent/guardian at the start of a class. They will hold this responsibility until the class ends and until they ensure that each student has been collected by their parent/guardian.

We expect everyone associated with us, staff, volunteers, parent/guardian and pupils to respect the different views and beliefs that may be held and to treat everyone with due care, consideration and respect always.

It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to look after personal property when attending classes and we highly recommend that shoes and personal belongings are clearly named or labelled correctly.

Pupils must always be respectful and courteous, and our teachers reserve the right to refuse a pupil to participate in class if they are dressed or behaving inappropriately.

Still looking?

You’ll also find that our parent body, the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society (RSCDS) publishes a wider set of FAQs at https://www.rscds.org/about/frequently-asked-questions.

If you’re looking for some information specific to the Edinburgh branch, including its classes and events, but you’ve not found it in the above list or elsewhere on our website, then please Contact Us.