The first thing I wanted to know when I was invited to try Scottish country dancing was, “Will there be bagpipes?” Although I’m generally eager to try any type of dance, that might have been a deal-killer.
My friend Rachel McDonald, who got me through the pandemic with her online Tabata and dance classes, had asked me if I wanted to try the Scottish country dance class she had just taken over teaching. Although the class is ostensibly for beginners, it has been going for decades and many of the students are veteran dancers. Assured there would be no bagpipes, I arrived at State Street Ballet Academy on a Thursday evening.
Most dance classes I’ve taken — Zumba, Nia, hip-hop, pole, flamenco — have been for exercise. Attendees don athletic clothes and try to get our heart rates up and strengthen our core. We move in unison (with any luck), but we’re each dancing solo. And the classes are always predominantly made up of women.