Summer Schools

 

St Andrews Summer School 2025

St Andrews, Scotland  ~  Choice of four Weeks:
▶︎July 13-20 ▶︎July 20-27 ▶︎July 27-Aug 3 ▶︎Aug 3-10

This is the Holy Grail for Scottish country dancers. The school is mounted by the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society. Over three weeks the best SCD teachers and musicians in the world assemble and dancers have a pure dead brilliant time in this glorious sea-side town. You will stay in dormitories and dance in halls, and perhaps frequent pubs well-known to Prince William and Kate.

Most folk opt for one of the three weeks, but some go for two. Each week has different teachers and musicians from Scotland and abroad. It’s quite an international congregation and celebration of Scottish dance. 

There are classes suitable for all levels of experience, beginners included, but it’s best to have prior beginner classes at home so you can participate fully in the evening dances in legendary Younger Hall.

Week Three is “Young Dancers Week” with special programmes for youngsters of different ages. Many families choose this as their week.

St Andrews Summer School is something you will always remember.

Info & Booking online: https://rscds.org/events/summer-school-2025 
or  Phone Edinburgh: 011 +44 +0131 225 3854



 

Intro to Summer Schools: Typically, summer schools are based at a university and you stay in student dorms. Format varies but usually mornings are for intense training and afternoons are for optional classes in exotica such as Highland dance, Ladies’ Step, or formations workshops. Or. . . you can just enjoy the neighbourhood. Often, optional day trips to points of interest are laid on.

Musicians usually get together in the evenings for wonderful jam sessions in common rooms and good-natured socialising prevails.

Most summer schools have a mid-week ceilidh evening. Everyone is welcome to volunteer their talents in music, song, dance, story-telling, or whatever you wish to offer. If you’re not good, you should be funny. Offbeat talent is encouraged. A towel origami ‘act’ was hilarious.

Summer schools are a pretty good vacation value considering you get instruction, fellowship, food, and accommodation. 

TAC Summer School 2025

(Teachers’ Association of Canada)

Bishop’s University, Sherbrooke, Québec

▶︎ August 3 - 10, 2025

TAC Summer School travels around North America, to be more accessible to dancers in different locations. It also attracts dancers from far away countries.


Classes for all levels: Basic, Intermediate, Advanced
(and a Teacher Candidate course as well)

Welcoming, supportive daily classes, evening social dances, formal ball and banquet.  Spontaneous evening ‘after’ parties, talent ceilidh, silent auction.

Teachers:  Rebecca Blackhall-Peters (B.C.), Linda Henderson (California), Andrew Nolan (UK), Cecily Selling (Pennsylvania)

Music Director: Gary Thomas (California)


Check the Teachers’ Association (Canada) website for updates.


Comments from 2018:

“This event was absolutely perfect for me and I had been dancing for only 10 months.”

“The live music was fantastic.”

“… the after parties! A great time to relax, get to know people for who they are outside of what their feet do on the dance floor, to talk, share, learn and listen.”

“For me, it was all just wonderful!”