I am going to a family wedding tomorrow. Mentally I am getting ready for church, long country walks (to reach the church), and lots of wine (to toast Pandora and her Max).  This witty picture that I found on the internet, perfectly represents the Three Ages of Robin attending weddings. And DANCING of course: I Dance, Therefore I Am.

Fit & Healthy Scottish Dancing on ICE !!!

Have you admired the Kerr siblings John and Sinead dancing on ice at the 2008 World Championships in Sweden?  If not, don't miss the opportunity - and this is the place to see them Scottish dancing to the music of Auld Lang Syne:

https://www.sunnyskyz.com/happy-videos/7055/Scottish-Siblings-Original-Ice-Dance-Has-Everyone-Cheering-During-The-Routine

Dancing with beautiful women

English country dancers from Sussex came to dance in Brittany - and naturally we danced with them. Do you prefer the elegance of her Lewes dress or the style of my Maclean kilt?

UK's Health Secretary supports DANCING for health

A new initiative launched by British Health Secretary Matt Hancock, doctors in the U.K. will soon be able to prescribe dance classes—along with art, music, sports, gardening and more—for patients suffering from conditions as various as dementia, lung problems and mental health issues.

In the Nov 2018 issue of Dance Magazine, reporter Lauren Wingenroth reported just how significant an impact movement can have as a form of treatment. For instance, when Mark Morris Dance Group's successful Dance for Parkinson's Disease program was profiled in the Journal of Neural Transmission in 2016, researchers found that patients who took 16 classes over eight weeks showed a 10.4 percent improvement in overall movement, a 26.7 percent improvement in walking and a 18.5 percent improvement in tremors. In 2010.

DANCE FIT AND HEALTHY is the theme of my blog; and my amusing book on this subject is called "I Dance Therefore I Am"  .... which you can buy on Amazon. 

teaching children to dance

Dance is an important part of our culture. Families and communities used to dance every week. We used to create our our entertainment with music and dance and stories. Now we consume, seated and lazy. It is the wonderful experience of dance that gets children moving and gives them the belief that they are beautiful, exciting physical people. Here we are dancing with kids in Josselin.

Thistle School has begun July 2019

Friends of mine are dancing in North Carolina at the famous Thistle School, now in its 39th and final year of existence. The great Mo Rutherford and Neil Copland (wonderful musicians celebrated in the Perth chapter of my book "I Dance Therefore I Am") are providing the music. Thistle School is world famous.  Let us salute Duard and Betty Lee for their dedication to dancing and for their many years of success in promoting "the greatest happiness of the greatest number" through Scottish dance. This banner hangs outside the dormitory building at Thistle School:

A second Janet McCrory dance painting

Painted for the RSCDS and reproduced here with Janet's permission.
This wonderful movement is called Birlin' Blue. It could be me and Moira.
I wish it was: Thistle School has just started and Oh! Alas!  I am not dancing!

Stong Arms, Strong Scottish Women

Stories About Strong Scottish Women

My wife was hinting about what she wanted for our upcoming anniversary.
She said, "I want something shiny that goes from 0 to 160 in seconds."
I bought her a bathroom scale.
She hit me with her gift. One week later my face is still showing the bruises. 

(A friend told me this story. It was NOT my wife. My face is OK - thanks for asking) 

This painting by Janet McCrory is called STRONG ARM and I am grateful for permission to share it with you. Her cards are sold by and on behalf of the RSCDS and her paintings are for sale on her website. I am guessing, but it is probably about HIS arm and not hers. But you never know with a Scottish woman!

I have been reading words of wisdom on the website of RSCDS Cornwall Branch:
"The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society (RSCDS) emphasises the three elements of fitness, fun and friendship that Scottish Country Dancing provides.  Research shows that dancing, and particularly Scottish country dancing, is one of the best forms of activity for keeping the body active and the mind alert. It can reduce the risk of osteoporosis and help prevent or complement the treatment of serious and chronic conditions.  The way to improve health and wellbeing could be just one step away - and what’s more it is fun!"

 It certainly is FUN !!!
These Cornish guys came to dance with us in Brittany last week and THEY HAD FUN !!!!!