50th Passport Challenge: Attend 50 dance events in our Golden Anniversary year. Be sure to sign in everywhere you go, and have your passport stickered/ stamped/ initialled. Hand in your completed passport(s) by August 31st to be eligible for the draw. There will also be a prize for partially-completed passports. Submit passports to Teresa Lockhart (416) 759-9845. The sponsors below generously encourage your participation because they feel they are contributing to a worthwhile tradition, and a valuable and colourful thread in our social fabric. Show them dancers care as well. Click on each logo to visit the sponsor website. Get kitted for summer weddings, TAC Summer School, and the Fall season. Win an 8-yard, hand-sewn custom kilt in the tartan of your choice. Or a lady's full length kilt skirt and matching sash. Fly Zoom to U.K, Paris or Rome and save 10% if you book now. Click logo above to visit their website.   Two chances to win a pair of return airfare tickets to Scotland, courtesy Hugh Boyle of ZOOM airlines. If you choose the Daily Special you can likely dine for less than at Swiss Chalet . Win dinner for two at this cosy pub on Prince Arthur (Bloor & Bedford), designed by St Clement's dancer, Peter C. Cotton. Volunteer Awards At our recent AGM the four individuals shown below were honoured by RSCDS Toronto. Click on the image to read Chair Jane Robinson's outline of their contributions. Share your joy -- join the demo team! Info here.

Summer Dancing •See What's On page. Good exercise - Good fun ! Classes: The Toronto Association runs classes for Beginners, Intermediates, and Advanced Dancers in convenient locations East, West, & North. Also, there are classes for children and teens in various parts of the city. There are Social Groups all over; likely in your neighbourhood. Any number of journal articles (Men's Health Oct 2002) and studies (Mike Erison B.P.E., Recreation Programmer, City of Mississauga, Community Services Dept) have shown the social and health benefits of dancing in general and Scottish Country Dancing in particular. One study has found the exercise is even good for your dental health! (Journal of Dentistry via Health Sciences Institute e-Alert) Anyone who does Scottish Country dancing will tell you "It's fun!". Have questions? Want answers? Download this pamphlet of Questions & Answers: "How Can I Get In On The Fun?" or contact Alice Chase 416-410-7078 (leave a message). Here are example videos of different forms of Scottish Country dancing: The Music & The Dance, a lovely Strathspey (slow time) devised by Ann Campbell in honour of the engagement of Lisa Mitchell and Bobby Brown. Danced in Seeley Hall, Trinity College (home of the Trinity Social Group). Midnight Oil, devised by John Drewry, is a challenging dance performed by the Trinity group at the Toronto Association's recent Festival Day. Also at the Festival, the TA Demo Team danced an amazing medley of favourites. Papa Stour, danced by Oakville Scottish Country Dancers. This is an ancient dance, going back at least to the Crusades, perhaps to the Vikings. Mary Ito's Scottish Country Dance Lesson, On Feb 4, at Swansea Town Hall, Mary Ito, popular host of CBC's daytime show, Living In Toronto, was given a Scottish Country Dance lesson. [Mac users. . . this link may not work :-( ].

Classes offer fun & fitness If you'd like to give Scottish Country dancing a whirl, there are classes near you Classes info. Classes begin in September. Join-up! Your Membership keeps our Association strong and helps finance events such as the Monthly Dance and Dancing In The Park. You'll save money on RSCDS Toronto events, you'll get a monthly Set & Link newsletter, and you'll get the new Scottish Dancer magazine from Edinburgh. You'll also be eligible to win prizes in the 50th Passport Challenge. It's a good deal -- as well as a good deal of fun! Download the 2008-2009 Membership Form (172k) Or, contact Membership Director, John Clark (416) 266-3609. Golden Feast Cookbook corrections Click on the wee chef to download corrections to the 50th Anniversary cookbook. A reprint is now available (complete with corrections incorporated and an additional recipe). To obtain a copy, contact Theresa Malek. (416) 535-4447 Bobby Brown releases two new CDs Bobby Brown has released two new "listening" CDs. The albums draw upon Bobby's amazing musical heritage. Albums feature the Cape Breton Symphony Fiddlers and a cast of legends, including John Allan Cameron, Sandy McIntyre and, of course, The Scottish Acccent band we know and love. Available from Lisa Brown wherever the band performs, and from Brownrigg Productions (visit their new website for more info). Read the press release (in Word).

Site maintained by Rob Lockhart
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