How to Learn a Scottish Dance

Taking a Class or Workshop

• 1). Visit the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society's website to find a worldwide list of local branches.
  
  
• 2). Call your closest branch to find out when the next classes or lessons are available. The branch might also have performances or demonstrations that you could attend.
  
  
• 3). Arrive for your first class with clothes that are easy to move in and shoes that are comfortable.
  
  
• 4). Follow your partners and don't be afraid of looking silly.
  
  

Teaching Yourself

• 1). Find a ceilidh-dancing instructional video online from a website such as www.MusicInScotland.com.
  
  
• 2). Convince a partner or two or three to join you. While some dances can be done with just two, there are many that require at least four to complete.
  
  
• 3). Buy traditional or contemporary ceilidh music, or download some sheet music from the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society and invite some musicians.
  
  
• 4). Use a rather large room, with a television and DVD player to play your instructional video and a CD player for the music.
  
  
• 5). Replicate each move in the step-by-step video as the instructor dictates.
  
  
• 6). Try the moves all together, slowly. Build up speed as you become more comfortable.
  
  
• 7). Start your music and try to complete the dance at the pace of the music.