RSCDS NZ Branch - Summer School

07/08/2026

Please welcome our talented tutors for the Musicians' Course at Summer School this year, accordionists Ian and Judith Muir from the Isle of Wight. 🏝

Ian and Judith both started playing at an early age for country dancing. Having served his apprenticeship in McBain’s band, Ian formed Craigellachie in 1986. After playing in a family band, and briefly joining Craigellachie in the late 1980s, Judith co-formed Sound Company, and on its retirement in 2003 she re-joined Craigellachie. Both Ian and Judith have considerable experience playing for classes and weekend, Summer and Winter Schools both in the UK and abroad. In November 2014 Ian was appointed the Music Director of the RSCDS, a term he held for six years. In their spare time Judith enjoys card and candle-making and Ian is a budding pastel artist.

To see more of Ian and Judith's works, check out their band's website at https://craigellachie-band.co.uk/, or their Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/

Remember that this year, you don't need to register as a dancer for the full Summer School to take the afternoon Musicians' Course!

We are offering a special package for the first time this year to encourage non-dancer musicians: six afternoons of lessons plus a chance to experience playing in the Big Band on the final night for an entire hall of dancing, for just $300.

If you have any musician friends who are curious about learning to play for Scottish Country Dancing, this would be the perfect opportunity! 🎶 We are even offering a taster Zoom class with Ian and Judith in advance of the School. Learn more here: https://sites.google.com/view/summerschool26-27/musicians-course

04/08/2026

Next up in our team of teachers is Katherine Uren.

"A professional cellist and music teacher by trade, Katherine received a flyer one day in the mail for Scottish Country Dancing and went along with her (amazing) daughter Emma to see what all the fuss was about. She was hooked. She worked her way up to complex balls, made many friends at New Zealand Summer Schools and day classes, devised several dances, attended the St Andrew's Summer School in Scotland, and completed her own RSCDS teaching qualification.

Katherine adores the flight, joy and teamwork of Scottish Country Dancing, and sharing this with whichever friends, family and APO colleagues she can corral into a set. Outside of the SCD world, she loves languages (boasting a >2000 day streak on Duolingo), music (obviously), books, and marmite and avocado on toast."🥑

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Are you also a fan of marmite and avocado? Come to Summer School to talk about it with Katherine! Fill out our registration form here: https://forms.gle/P6xEqFe2iU8dbwPz5

Remember our earlybird pricing offer ends on 31 Aug!

31/07/2026

Taking our Teachers' Prep morning class this year at Summer School will be the fantastic Jeanette Watson.

Our Teachers' Prep class this year is not just for those aiming to take teaching exams in future - it can be a fascinating sideways step for those who want to learn more in depth about Scottish Country Dancing from a different angle, help out in their clubs, discover tips for briefing, or prepare for the CTI. Or just try something a bit different in their morning classes!

Here's what Jeanette says about her background:

"I started Scottish Country Dancing aged about 9, as an escape from ballet classes. After a break as a teenager, I started back at the Victoria University of Wellington club, then switched to Island Bay. Iain Boyd, Noeline O’Connor, Romaine Butterfield, Doug Mills, Wendy Jaeger and Mirth Smallwood were all also attending the club at that time – so, lots of great role models for dancing and teaching!

After dancing for 3 years in the UK and Europe, I started teaching back home and completed my Full Certificate at the Hamilton Summer School in 1997-98. And I’ve been teaching at club level, and at various classes in the Wellington region and nationally ever since. I also run two courses of night school classes a year through our local Community Education Centre. 🌃

I’ve attended various dance teacher training courses over the years, run by Wellington Region, NZ Summer School and Australian Teachers Alliance, and taken an interest in learning more about ‘how to teach’ through more generic courses. I’ve taught teaching skills courses for both the NZ Branch and ATA."

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Discover more about our Teachers' Prep class here: https://sites.google.com/view/summerschool26-27/classes-offered/teachers-prep-course
Also remember that the NZ Branch runs one scholarship for somebody interested in attending this class! 😮

28/07/2026

Next up for our Summer School teachers is Elaine Goldthorpe, of the famed Northland dinner and dancing events.

"Elaine trained to teach Home Economics and slid gently into Special Education, a major passion. She gained her B.Ed. whilst working in prisons!

She then gained her full RSCDS teaching certificate under the watchful eye of Anna Holden who loved her teaching and tried so hard to improve her footwork! Her philosophy when teaching is to have lots of fun whilst raising self-esteem. If you believe in yourself, you will relax and go far!" 💪

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Elaine would particularly love to encourage our youth to attend Summer School, as it is a fantastically unique opportunity to bond with other youth across the country, plus enormous fun to boot. 👢

If you have JAMs in your club, encourage them and their parents to apply! Remember that scholarships are available for kids, young adults and families. https://sites.google.com/view/summerschool26-27/classes-offered/jams

24/07/2026

Also teaching at Summer School this year will be Kathryn Deroles!
Here is what Kathryn says about her teaching:

"Apart from dancing, my favourite hobby is gardening. Gardening would trump dancing if I had to choose, but I'm fortunate enough to be able to do both! 🌱

Expect to be challenged mentally and physically in my classes, and do some things you have never done before - collaborative, observational, brain yoga etc…

'Great things are not done by impulse but by a series of small things brought together' (Van Gogh)" 🎨

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Curious about the classes offered at Summer School? Go here to learn more: https://sites.google.com/view/summerschool26-27/classes-offered

21/07/2026

Next in our line-up of Summer School teachers is Fiona Bullivant.

"Fiona has been dancing and teaching for more years than she likes to admit. A lover of strong strathspeys, firm hands and big smiles, she gets a great sense of satisfaction from seeing dancers achieving their best and having fun as they do so."

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Want to learn from Fiona? Make sure you've completed your registration form: https://forms.gle/P6xEqFe2iU8dbwPz5

17/07/2026

Remember that the NZ Branch offers a range of fantastic scholarships to encourage Summer School attendance in our community!

If you know people in your clubs who might benefit from a scholarship, especially those scholarship categories with fewer applicants, please encourage them to apply.

Scholarships cover the full resident fee for Summer School (accommodation, meals and tuition for the week). They are drawn out of a ballot, so anybody has a chance :)

This year, scholarships are available for:
- Those who want to attend our Teacher Preparation class
- Those who want to attend our Musicians' Course
- Dancers with less than 5 years' experience
- Dancers with 6 or more years' experience
- Young Adult Members (aged 18-24 on 1 Sep 2026)
- Junior Associate Members (under 19)
- Families (up to two adults and two JAMs)

Go here to learn more: https://dancescottish.org.nz/education-scholarship/

NZ Branch scholarship applications themselves are due by 30 September, but if you're applying for a scholarship you should also register for Summer School by 31 August to get the earlybird discount 🐥

NZ Branch offers a range of annual scholarships for dancers, teachers and musicians, who are NZ residents, to attend a NZ Branch Summer School.

12/07/2026

Our next teacher for Summer School is William Williamson, from the UK.

"I started dancing during my first year at Primary School and have never stopped! Scottish Country Dancing has taken me across the globe to teach and pass on the enjoyment of this very special cultural activity that brings people together in a typically Scottish “come and join us” way. Linda and I have been members of the Dumfries branch all of our lives and it has been an honour to serve the Society in many ways over the years. My wife Linda is at present the Convenor of our Youth Services Committee helping to create opportunities for young people to enjoy Scottish Country Dancing. It’s also my pleasure to present “The Blether“ podcast each month with Gary Coull talking to guests who have an interest in Scotland’s music and dancing.

I enjoyed being in New Zealand and Australia, as the Chair, during the RSCDS centenary year and look forward to meeting many friends once again in Auckland where my colleagues and I can assure you of the very best of Scottish music and dancing."

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Learn more about our Summer School teacher line-up here: https://sites.google.com/view/summerschool26-27/teachers

10/07/2026

Introducing our lovely teachers for Summer School this year. Register now for the chance to learn from some of Australasia and the UK's best.

First up is Diana Hastie, from Australia.

"I was born in Aberdeen, but spent most of my childhood in Yorkshire before returning north of the border at 18 and getting hooked on SCD. I moved to Australia in 2010 and now live in Sydney with my husband, son and six chickens.

I have taught at residential schools in Scotland, New Zealand and Australia. I enjoy teaching technique to improve many aspects of dancing and look forward to working with my classes in Auckland."

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Have you registered for Summer School yet? Fill out our handy form to learn from Diana and the rest of the team of teachers: https://forms.gle/P6xEqFe2iU8dbwPz5

22/06/2026

Check out our beautiful facilities for Summer School this year. Waipuna Hotel & Conference Centre is centrally located in Mt Wellington, and boasts fantastic views of the Panmure Basin.

For the first time in many years, our evening venue and the majority of our class venues will be held onsite at Waipuna - so all you have to do is walk down the hall.

All venues at Waipuna boast air conditioning (!!), and several also have expansive waterfront views - or even balconies - so you can feel inspired by New Zealand's lovely outdoors as you dance. Who else can't wait for AC on hot summer dancing nights?

For those who choose to live-in as residents at Waipuna, we are offering hotel-quality rooms. Each includes a bath, separate shower, refrigerator and two queen beds. Find out more details here: https://www.waipunahotel.co.nz/accommodation/bureau-twin

There is plenty of parking. The hotel also includes a swimming pool and spa, so residents, bring your togs. 👙 Perfect to relax those sore feet in after a hard morning of dancing!

Have you completed your registration form yet? Join us here: https://forms.gle/8w64My6qsdkVUmF28