Scotland

This young lady has trained and practiced to compete in the Highland Games category of Highland Dance. She is wearing ghillies, special soft shoes for this kind of dance. She appears ready to perform the sword dance.

We attended some highland games where I was spellbound by the skill of the individual competitors in Highland Dance. Precision is the word! Technique is the task! Bagpipes for music!

Scottish Country dances are performed by couples. Music is bagpipes or accordion.

Later we learned that anyone was invited to learn / participate in a weekly Scottish Country dancing class held at Linlithgow Palace, a short drive west of Edinburg. Without too much persuasion, my husband and friends joined me for this! Some men were wearing kilts. They appeared comfortable and natural. They wore shirts and light sweaters, as if not ‘in costume’. A very nice lady (pink sweater)  invited me (red hoody)  to be her partner. My friend videotaped us, she didn’t know that you were only supposed to hold the camera horizontally.

It was the summer of 2007. We lived for five weeks in Scotland because my pastor husband switched pulpits with a Scottish pastor. They contacted us and initiated the arrangement so they could spend time in Tennessee. We lived in their energy efficient stone home in a valley below Stirling Castle, less than a mile from the William Wallace Memorial. Sigh. The church was a three block walk from the manse (house where we lived- belonging to the church). The churches chancel was built by Scottish architect Rennie Macintosh (1868-1928) of Glasgow and tours were given every weekend. The people were friendly and delightful. The coffee bothy, grocery store, pub, and main street were nearby, a relaxing walk past lovely flower laden gardens. We were given use of our host’s car: manual shift, driver’s side on left. My husband drove, I read the map. With two heads we slowly mastered the roundabouts. Best side trip: Mull and Iona. I unsuccessfully tried to learn the Gaelic. If we ever return, I hope to become a better Scottish Country dancer and more proficient in the Gaelic!

“I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ” Luke 18:3

Dance, sing, and learn a new language!

For a number of years I taught Spanish to young children. I think it must have been my most fun job!  On the cover of the CD pictured above,  the children are singing and dancing to FATHER ABRAHAM in Spanish. The collection of Spanish songs included in this 40 minute recording were useful to me as I taught Spanish to children, ages 3-12. Some songs are original, others culturally authentic to hispanohablantes (those who have Spanish as their first language) and many were translated from English into Spanish.    Español con Sra. Scruggs is a CD of 36 songs that is sold with a companion book that gives the guitar chords, Spanish and English lyrics, dance instructions (or hand motions) , photos and short background stories for each entry.  Español con Sra. Scruggs is sold at AMAZON or leave a comment on this blog and I’ll help you get a copy! The vocabulary and phrases sung and danced by those who listen to this CD are forever implanted in their memory!

 

This is the cover of the book that accompanies the CD. I took this picture in Jaca, Spain, just on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees. ISBN 0-9747272-0-2 Permiso Por Favor Publishing, 2003. The CD received a Parent’s Choice Award, hence the red/white seal in upper right corner!

 

Head, shoulders, knees, and toes; a dance to La Cucaracha that resembles Pharoah,Pharoah but is about dragons and grasshoppers;  I’m a little snowman, that resembles I’m a little teapot, and LA BAMBA, are other dances that you will find in this book/CD.

Soy un hombre de nieve

 

Cabeza, Hombros, Piernas, Pies

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with timbrel and lyre! For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with victory.” Psalm 149: 3-4