ALEX GRAY WORKSHOP, 1 JUNE 2025

On Sunday afternoon, 1 June, over twenty dancers gathered in Swansea for a workshop, to be taught some new dances by Alex Gray, formerly a Chairman of the RSCDS and a well-known dance devisor. Until late 2019, when they moved back to Scotland, Alex and his late wife Kate had danced and taught in South Wales for over forty years.

For the workshop Alex chose dances from the 100th Anniversary Book produced by the Edinburgh Branch of the RSCDS, which included two of his own dances. He also introduced dancers to two other new dances which he had recently devised, one in honour of Kate which included some of her favourite dance formations (the strathspey poussette and the helix). The other dance, entitled “Biggar’s 80th Anniversary Reel” was devised in February 2025 for a group of dancers in the Scottish Borders.

In all Alex included seven dances, the instructions for which are all available from our Branch Secretary on request. Attendees included dancers from all over the Branch, and with a wide range of levels of experience. The atmosphere was warm, friendly and welcoming, with lots of smiles and laughter.

The format of Sunday afternoon workshops seems to be popular among our Branch members at present, and we are delighted to announce that we have another one planned for Sunday 21 September, when we will try out dances from the forthcoming Book (no. 54), to be launched this summer by the RSCDS. For details of the workshop please see the Dance Diary on the Branch website.