2019 Articles

Becoming a double agent
Double the fun!
Rod and Kristin: Dancing in Heidelberg
Rod and Kristin: Dancing in the USA
Why attend Region Classes?
Joint Annual Dance with Capital City: Preparation
Pat Reesby: Dancing in Whangarei
Désirée Patterson: Summer School
Music Workshop with Lynne Scott
Loralee Hyde: Finding Jimmy Shand
Dance Around the World!
Pat Reesby: Your ears can be busy too!
John Homes: Afternoon dancing
Farewell to Don and Judy Keats
Maureen Robson: NZ Branch Award
Mathematics, Computer Science & SCD
St Patrick’s Day Celebrations
Kiwis in Kilts

Becoming a double agent

Moira Broughton has written about dancing at her second club – Ngaio, and the advantages of being a ‘Double Agent’.  She recommends you try becoming a double agent at Ngaio, Tawa or Capital City (Thursday), or Kelburn (Wednesday).

Find out more here

Double the fun!

How can you have even more fun than dancing at Johnsonville? You can dance at a second club as well!

Many of our members do just that – as club members or as visitors.

See more about members having double the fun!

Rod and Kristin: Dancing in Heidelberg

Our tutor Rod Downey (often accompanied by Kristin, our President) has visited Heidelberg many times over the years to work with colleagues at Heidelberg University, and has always been welcomed by the Heidelberg SchlossDancers

Find out more from Kristin about their dancing in Heidelberg

Rod and Kristin: Dancing in the USA

On their visit to the United States in September, Rod and Kristin Downey, our tutor and President, enjoyed meeting up with Scottish Country Dancing groups in the areas where they were based.

See more about their dancing and teaching experiences

Why attend Region Classes?

This year the Wellington Region offered classes at many levels, including a Basics Class for newer dancers. And in July Maureen Robson taught an afternoon Reels Class.

Amongst the many Johnsonville dancers who attended classes, three have shared their thoughts. Find out what they have to say about their class experiences.

Joint Annual Dance with Capital City: Preparation

After weeks of preparation, our shared Annual Dance on 24 August was a happy and fun evening.

See more here about our preparation

See more photos and a full review of our Annual Dance

Pat Reesby: Dancing in Whangarei

Pat Reesby was in Whangarei in early August, catching up with old friends and family members, and happened to be there on a Thursday, the day on which the Whangarei Scottish Country Dance Club meets.

See more from Pat about her evening

Désirée Patterson: Summer School

When Désirée Patterson first started dancing in February 2007, some people asked if she had attended Summer School. No, she hadn’t, she knew nothing about it.

But by the end of the dancing year, she was was keen to give Summer School a go. Find out more from Désirée about her experiences at Summer Schools since then

Music Workshop with Lynne Scott

On 16 June, Désirée Patterson attended a music workshop with Lynne Scott – versatile musician, music teacher, and NZ Branch Music Adviser.

The workshop was aimed at both dancers and musicians, or talented people who are both.

See more from Désirée about this workshop

Finding Jimmy Shand

A chance remark can lead you off your chosen path … and set you up for an unexpected encounter.

While on a tour of Europe in May, Loralee Hyde had a few days in Scotland. In Auchtermuchty in Fife, she found out this town was once the home of Jimmy Shand. Find out more about her encounter

Dance Around the World!

Each year as winter approaches, Johnsonville holds a themed social night with dinner and dancing for members and their families. This year on 11 May we celebrated the international nature of the Scottish Country Dancing community, and the international diversity of our club membership.

As always, it was lots of fun with good food, good company and a great programme! See more from Kristin Downey about this fun-filled evening

Your ears can be busy too!

What might your ears be doing while your feet are busy dancing … or when you’re sitting out a dance?

Pat Reesby attended the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Weekend Scottish Country Dancing school at Katikati, where she heard a talk by our local musician Lynne Scott.

Click here to find out more from Pat

John Homes: Afternoon dancing

From late in 2018, we heard that Gaylia Powell, from Ngaio Club, was organising some sessions of dancing during the afternoons, for those who would be able to so attend.

Find out more from John Homes about the Tuesday sessions for advanced dancers

Farewell to Don and Judy Keats

A good turnout of club members farewelled Don and Judy Keats on Monday 20 May. They are moving to their retirement home on the Kapiti Coast, and will take up membership of Waikanae Scottish Country Dance Club.

See more here

Maureen Robson: NZ Branch Award

A very special feature of Ngaio Club’s Annual Dance on 4 May, was a presentation of a RSCDS Branch Award by New Zealand Branch President Elaine Laidlaw to long-serving Tawa tutor Maureen Robson – for outstanding service to Scottish Country Dancing.

See more about Maureen’s Award

Mathematics, Computer Science and Scottish Country Dancing

During an interview with Radio New Zealand following his award of the Rutherford Medal by the the Royal Society Te Apārangi in 2018, Johnsonville Club tutor Rod Downey was asked why, as a mathematician, he was interested in Scottish Country Dancing and why he thinks this form of dancing appeals to people in maths and sciences.

Rod has written a piece as a discussion on these points that simply reflects his experiences and views as a dancer, a teacher, and a deviser. Find out more and read his article

St Patrick’s Day Celebrations

Johnsonville dancers were treated to a night of Irish-themed dances and grand tunes on Monday 18 March – only a day late for St Patrick’s Day.

New dancers (pictured) and those not-so-new  took up the challenge to ‘wear green for St Patrick’s Day’ and filled the hall with many shades of green and a lot of enthusiasm. See more about this fun-filled evening

Katharina and Thomas: Kiwis in Kilts

When Austrians Katharina and Thomas moved to New Zealand and settled in Johnsonville, they had no idea they were about to become part of the local Scottish Country Dancing community.

Find out more from them about their first year of dancing

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