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Product Description
Product Description
Song and dance are at the very centre of any nation's culture and are said to represent the innermost character of a people. The whirling, dashing and spinning of the classic Scottish reels are no exception. Here, Roddy Martine and Andrew Campell provide a lighthearted guide to the basic steps of Scottish reels and country dances, all broken down into bullet points and illustrated with easy-to-follow diagrams. With further, indisposable hints on the social niceties of reeling, the conventions of the dance and the timetable of the Scottish social season, "The Swinging Sporran" is a hilarious companion to anyone who ventures into the social world north of the border.
About the Author
Roddy Martine has written a large number of books on Scottish life, encompassing Scotch whisky, clans and tartans, interiors and biographies. In addition he contributes to a wide range of newspapers, and is associate editor of Caledonia Magazine. Andrew Campbell was born and brought up in Muir of Ord, Ross-shire. He is director of Ashridge Stategic Management Centre, visiting professor at City University Business Sxhool and author of 10 books on business stategy.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
To be honest, there's a limit to what a book about dancing can actually teach you: if you're a complete Scottish country dancing beginner, not even step-by-step diagrams are going to convey the intricacies of the moves and spins, even if, like this manual, tries its best with arrows and diagrams. You really need to see dancers in action, and hear the music, to get how the individual sections all fit together.
However, having said that, of all the guides I've read in a vain attempt to learn in a hurry, The Swinging Sporran is the most useful. It breaks down all the classic dances you would need to know for a formal Scottish reeling night into basic steps - Hamilton House, the Eightsome Reel, Reel of the 51st Division, Dashing White Sergeant, etc - and offers some tongue-in-cheek advice straight from 1973 about what to wear, and what to expect. Not much has changed; after all, a kilt is a kilt is a kilt. This is definitely an introductory guide to the traditional world of Scottish Country Dancing, however; you'll need a different book if you're heading for a more informal folk dance ceilidh, where Strip the Willow, the Gay Gordons, etc, are more usual.
But with a CD of appropriate tunes to put to the steps, this is a handy little book to keep in your sporran for reference, and a good starting place for anyone with an interest in Scottish country dance.
However, having said that, of all the guides I've read in a vain attempt to learn in a hurry, The Swinging Sporran is the most useful. It breaks down all the classic dances you would need to know for a formal Scottish reeling night into basic steps - Hamilton House, the Eightsome Reel, Reel of the 51st Division, Dashing White Sergeant, etc - and offers some tongue-in-cheek advice straight from 1973 about what to wear, and what to expect. Not much has changed; after all, a kilt is a kilt is a kilt. This is definitely an introductory guide to the traditional world of Scottish Country Dancing, however; you'll need a different book if you're heading for a more informal folk dance ceilidh, where Strip the Willow, the Gay Gordons, etc, are more usual.
But with a CD of appropriate tunes to put to the steps, this is a handy little book to keep in your sporran for reference, and a good starting place for anyone with an interest in Scottish country dance.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Highland Balls can be a bit daunting - unless you have boned up beforehand with this slim little confidence booster. Most scottish country dance manuals contain incomprehensible diagrams and arcane instructions which only the most knowledgable and experienced dancers can decipher. Enter "The Swinging Sporran". Light hearted and amusing it may be, but it has most of the dances commonly used at Highland Balls in a form that will refresh your memory with grace and ease. Just what is required in fact by people like me with dodgy memories who don't wish to spoil the fun by getting in a muddle at the crucial moment. You might even learn some new dances but its more likely that you will have tried most of these before unless you are a complete novice, in which case you should probably seek some basic instruction. Not for the keen expert, but you will know yourself if you belong in that hallowed group.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Brushed up my dancing skills before a ball with this! At least I had an idea which direction to go in during the dances!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
An Educational spoof
Having taken up Celeidh & Scottish Country Dance classes as I approached my 60's I was given this book by a friend. Read more
Published 10 months ago by ed.inEdinburgh
A must-have for any reels enthusiast!
The 'Swinging Sporran' is an absolute must-have for anyone needing the odd refresher before a reels party. Read more
Published on 6 April 2010 by C. A. Wood
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