Frequently Asked Questions

What's so good about Scottish Country Dance anyway?

It’s lots of fun and a great fitness activity. Centuries of lairds, ladies and ghillies can’t be wrong.

Nope. Most of us aren’t and SCD is danced all around the world anyway. That’s one of the best things about it- we can find a local group wherever we go and we are always welcome, same dances, same music.

Nope. We dance in sets and it is usual to swap for every dance. It is considered rude to stay with one partner or group all night.

Just soft shoes to start with. Sneakers are fine. But please note that ordinary street shoes/boots and especially high heels, are not allowed.

A reasonable level of fitness is needed. A few useful checks

  1. Can you skip?
  2. Can you walk very briskly for at least 10 minutes?
  3.  Are you able to tell left from right and move in the right direction? That’s what most of SCD consists of.

That’s fine. The kilt is never compulsory, even on the most formal of occasions.

That’s just fine because there aren’t any in SCD. Our music is more like a bush band-fiddles, keyboards and accordions, percussion. No Highland Fling, no Sword Dance and No…oo…oo Bagpipes.

Our events aren’t suitable for primary school age children. Young children can, and do, learn SCD, but it is in a child friendly class designed for them. 

Teenagers should come along only if they are genuinely interested and preferably have a background in another dance style.

SCD closes down over December/Jan.

The groups usually meet on a regular weeknight and some have daytime classes too.

For start dates for the groups in early 2025, please see the

RSCDS Melbourne site-‘Groups’ page.

Please always make contact before going to a group night- it may not be a suitable night for various reasons.

There are some beginners courses run by the groups and you will find the details on the RSCDS Melbourne Groups page. 

These are the groups in Victoria

Bentleigh – Bayside Scottish Country Dancers 

Berwick – Berwick & District SCD Group Inc

Camberwell – Scotscraig SCD Group Inc

Croydon – Kilsyth SCD Group Inc

Deepdene – Deepdene Scottish Country Dancers Inc

Essendon North – North Essendon Uniting Church SCD Group

Forest Hill – The Mitcham Scottish Society Inc

Glen Iris – The Celtic Dance Group Inc

Glen Iris – Stonnington Scottish Country Dancers Inc

Mount Waverley – Waverley Scottish Society Inc 

Pascoe Vale – Glenroy SCD Group Inc 

Ringwood – Ringwood Caledonian Society Inc

Surrey Hills – Box Hill & District Scottish Society Inc 

Werribee – Werribee SCD Group

Country Victoria

Ballarat SCD Group Inc

Bendigo St. Andrew’s SCD Group Inc

Daylesford Dancers’ SCD Group

Leopold – Geelong Ocean Grove SCD Group Inc

Woodend – Macedon Ranges Scottish Country Dancers Inc

Thistle Club – Inverloch Scottish Country Dancers Inc

U3A Wodonga Scottish Country Dancing