Victoria Bingham isn’t Scottish, but that’s not going to stop her – or her Haliburton Scottish Country Dancers – from hitting the floor at the Haliburton Legion Saturday as part of Robbie Burns night.
Also known as Robert Burns day, it is a celebration of the life and work of Scottish poet Robert Burns. It takes place on Jan. 25, the anniversary of Burns’ birth. It traditionally features: a meal of Scottish food, whisky, and recitals of Burns’ poetry and songs; speeches, toasts, and other ways to honor Burns; traditional music, including the tune of Auld Lang Syne, wearing a kilt or family tartan, dance, and community spirit.
Bingham said the dancers officially restarted in February 2024, after last year’s Robbie Burns night.
“I have a core group of about six to 12 people who show up on a regular basis,” Bingham said. “And we’ve been working hard to learn some skills. We’re going to show off some of what we’ve learned on Saturday night.”
They are planning to do a couple of dances and lead Céilidh dancing as well. “We’re going to invite people to come and join us on the dance floor.”
Bingham said some of her group has been dancing for a year, and some have just joined in the past month. “We’ve got a range of people who’ve got some experience, and a range of people who have very little experience. And they’re all doing great.”
Bingham said when starting out as a beginner, there are a series of formations. “They’re basically like little puzzle pieces. And when you learn the little bits of puzzle pieces, then in each dance those puzzle pieces get combined into a different sort of a puzzle. My job as a teacher is to try and teach what those puzzle pieces are so when you go and dance with other people, if they say ‘we’re going to circle four hands around and back’, you know what that means.”
She said the thing she loves about Scottish country dancing is it’s very social and community-oriented. “Once you know the bits, you can go and dance anywhere.” She added it can be as formal, or informal as people want.
“Our group is very social; it’s very informal; it’s very much about having fun and just getting out there and learning and enjoying dancing in whatever skillset you have. You could be really, really good at it, or you could be bad at it, and you’re still welcome.”
She encouraged people of all backgrounds to go as “it’s important to be aware of older bits of culture, and really enjoy them and celebrate them. I’m a huge fan of folk dancing. It’s such a regional thing in the world. But the whole point of it is always community.” She also encouraged new dancers to their next session that begins Jan. 27.
