James Gray (piano):
Born into a family actively involved in the local Scottish Country
Dance scene, James grew up surrounded by a love of Scottish music and
culture. He started piano lessons at the age of five, initially being
taught by his grandmother, who played for his parents' dance classes,
and later took up the accordion.
James is well known among Scottish country dancers for his solo and
ensemble piano playing. To date, he has played as a solo musician at
dance schools in the US, Canada, Europe and New Zealand, and was the
director of the first RSCDS youth school. He plays in the dance band
Scottish Measure, and in a duo with Keith Smith. The Host of the Air
was his first ensemble release with musicians Susie Petrov and Laura
Risk. In 2006 he released a solo album Piano Dance, and a CD of his
compositions, Opus Dance, in 2012. He is featured on the RSCDS
recordings for Book 17 and Graded Book 2.
James now lives in Norway. There he is often seen skiing or heard
playing accordion. He maintains his links to Scotland and, in
addition to playing for Scottish Dancing, he plays with champion
Scottish fiddler Gregor Borland and bothy ballad singer Scott Gardiner.
Andrew Lyon (accordion): I was born into a dancing family and took up playing for dance
classes on the piano in the early 1980's.
I started the band 'Scottish
Measure SCD Band' in 1986, the same year I attended the first RSCDS pianist
course in Edinburgh.
I was first invited to play for Summer School in
1988 and have played there many times over the years.
I'm lucky to have played for classes, dances and workshops all over
the UK, and Europe.
Phill Jones (accordion): He has been playing for Scottish Country Dancing for
over 20 years. As well as playing for weekly dance classes in
Central Scotland.
Phill also plays regularly for dances, balls and schools
throughout the UK and beyond.
Alasdair Gray (teacher) lives in Edinburgh, Scotland, where he
dances with the Edinburgh Branch and a variety of local clubs.
Alasdair has been dancing since he was a wee lad, learning both
country and highland from his parents, and continuing this on at
university.
Alasdair qualified as an RSCDS teacher in the early 2000s
and has been teaching local groups, branch classes, and international
weekend schools across Europe ever since.
The dance weekend will be followed by a tourist programme as usual.
Our club members will accompany you throughout your journey in one of
the nicest cities of Hungary, in north-western Hungary,
Sopron
(Wikipedia,
pictures)
and its environs (see the schedule below).
Based on previous feedback from you we have planned more time for
individual activities. On Monday you can decide if you would like to
have a rest or take part in specific sight-seeing (you can decide on
them later), e.g.
Buda Hills
or National Archives or walk on the Castle Hill, etc.
Our trip will start on Tuesday, 4 June and will finish in Vienna on 7
June if you continue dancing in Vienna (Group B), or in Budapest if
you do not attend the Anniversary SCD Weekend in Vienna.
Be aware that the price of the tourist programme does NOT include
accommodation for Sunday and Monday (2 and 3 June) and Friday (7 June)
nights. You have to book Sunday and Monday nights when you apply for
the dance course (whichever accommodation you choose). We can help you
book a hotel for Friday (7 June) and other days should you need it.
Schedule
Sunday, 2 June
15:00
"Laughter is the dance of the soul" tells an ancient eastern wisdom
After having spent the whole weekend with Scottish
country dancing, you can also try this "spiritual kind of
dancing" at a FREE laughter-yoga hour held in Budapest
on Sunday afternoon.
Place: Garden of Philisophy
in Orom street on the North slope of Gellért-hill (click for map)
Evening
Optional concert or dance performance
Monday, 3 June
09:00
Breakfast
10:00
Special options for visiting sights in Budapest in small groups
13:00
Lunch in the Buda Hills or in the city
Afternoon
Getting back to the hotel, resting or shopping, etc.