As part of our Scots focus month, we invited Mrs Henry, who founded and teaches the Fearon Scottish Country Dancers , to come and teach us a thing or two about set dances!
We are extremely lucky in that, when Mrs Henry isn’t dancing she is working at Portpatrick Primary supporting learners and keeping the administration side ticking over, and so we were able simply to lift the phone and ask her to spend a session with us!
Before Christmas, the pupils had learnt a few popular Scottish dances such as the Gay Gordons, Military Two Step and Canadian Barn Dance but Mrs Henry taught them all something quite a different: three dances called Rabbie’s Reel, A Reel for Jeanie and the Virginia Reel.
Now, I won’t lie and say everything went smoothly first time – there were a number of wrong turns, miscounting of steps and dance steps not quite happening in the correct order as you might expect! But under the expert tuition of Mrs Henry (such patience!), the pupils of Leswalt Primary were soon dancing fairly successfully and having lots of fun! There were quite a few looking rather puffed-out as dancing is a great way to exercise.
I am quite sure the pupils will be amongst the first to take to the dancefloor at future ceilidhs now! Wedding receptions, 18th and 21st birthday parties…you name it, this lot have the required dancing skills.
Thank you to Mrs Henry for giving up her time to lead us in such a fun morning!
And if anyone fancies doing some more dancing, Mrs Henry’s weekly classes are open to all ages and are held every Monday at the Millennium Centre between 5-6pm. She’d love to welcome new members along!
