We had a Traditional Dance Artist in Residence, Clackmannanshire in partnership with Clackmannanshire Council . At the end of the two year programme, Lisa Kennedy became STDT's Resident Dance Tutor.

We also have a Traditional Dance Artist in Aberdeen City in partnership with Aberdeen City Council, funded by Scottish Arts Council Lottery Fund. This part-time position ends in September 2008. Traditional Dance Artist, Fife , is Joyce Anderson and Joyce works tirelessly 3 days a week for the Trust. This post is funded by Arts & Theatres Trust Fife.

STDT continue to strive to improve activity in other areas throughout Scotland.

STDT seeks to raise the profile of traditional dance nationally & internationally. The Trust is about enjoyment, collaboration and partnership in the process and results of our events & activities .

NATIONAL

Our 5th Traditional Dance Festival took place in the Central Region in March 2008 and was a huge success in terms of numbers watching, participating or competing in traditional dance. In addition, the Trust organises and supports various opportunities for demonstration of, and participation in, all our dance traditions through our own events but also in partnership with other organisations.

INTERNATIONAL

We held a Ceilidh for a group of French Students here at The Speirs Centre and the Tutor had to issue instructions in French. It was a great success and the 50 students and teachers greatly enjoyed themselves.

On 23rd July 2008 Lisa Kennedy our Resident Dance Tutor will hold another Ceilidh Class for visiting students from the U.S.A.

On 10th August 2008, STDT & Clackmannanshire Council will host a performance by a group of Basque Dancers that are coming to Scotland to give some performances and to learn about our Scottish Culture & Traditions. This will very much be a day of culture exchange and the Spanish dancers will be taught How To Ceilidh.

STDT continues to develop its outreach activity in schools and communities.

A 2 year project in South Ayrshire schools working with P.7's and then following them to S.1 in High School. We hosted two Celebration of Dance Days in each of the two High Schools when pupils performed for their peers. This was a huge undertaking for STDT, involving 5 tutors over 7 weeks. The logistics were difficult as many of the primary schools were very small and situated in rural locations not accessible by public transport, but the results were worth the effort with around 89% of the children rating the workshops as "Great" or "Good."

We have completed a nine month dance residency in South Lanarkshire, collaborating with Cultural Co-ordinator Kimberly White and the contemporary dance company Spinal Chord. The project covered 4 cluster areas and the Primary feeder Schools for Biggar, Cathkin, John Ogilvie and Calderglen High. The project consisted of two 6 week blocks, during which each school received a 1 hour session per week of Scottish Fusion dance. This involved learning various Ceilidh dances and combining them with contemporary dance styles, such as, African, Hip-Hop,Salsa and Bollywood.

Both of the 6 week blocks resulted in a final performance at each cluster High School, as a final showcase of their work.
During the course of the residency, 3 Continuing Professional Development sessions were also offered to all P.E teachers and primary staff as an introduction to teaching dance. The sessions offered ideas and simple techniques for teaching Ceilidh dance and choreographing Scottish Fusion routines.
In the final stages of the residency Peer Leadership training was offered to High School pupils to become Dance Mentors. This 6 week block provided them with the skills to facilitate dance.

STDT is keen to develop an active and useful dialogue between dance advocates representing all sectors.

We continue to develop collaborations with other organisations and festivals in Scotland, including:

- National Museums of Scotland

- Historic Scotland

- Edinburgh's Ceilidh Culture

- Hairst Festival, Angus

- Clackmannanshire Council

- Local Authorities throughout Scotland

- Traditional dance performers and artists

Help us to continue our work by becoming a FRIEND of the Trust. In return we will keep you up to date on our Events and Classes and also send you a newsletter twice a year. Membership is £15 per annum and the concession rate is £12.50.

If you would like to join us contact us. Please see Contact section for details.

STDT is a national organisation which exists to promote and encourage participation and enjoyment in all forms of Scottish traditional dance. It is a registered Scottish charity no: SCO24389 and a company limited by guarantee no: SC161754. Registered Office: 30-31 Queen St, Edinburgh, EH2 1JX.

STDT moved offices in August 2007 to the Speirs Centre, Primrose Street, Alloa. This was the result of two years of negotiations with Cultural and Community Services of Clackmannanshire Council. The move indicates a significant development in the partnership of STDT with Cultural and Community Services. The Speirs building that STDT have moved to is going to be renovated and extended and will provide a much awaited permanent home for the national archive and resource centre for Scottish dance. There will also be a performance area within the newly developed Speirs building that will enable a significant increase in the number of performances of Traditional dance. It is hoped that the newly refurbished Speirs Centre that will also house the library, the museum, a touring exhibition space and education rooms will be open by 2010.

STDT is the only national organisation which exists to research, foster and promote all of Scotlands traditions of dance. In the 2007-2008 year, STDT's attendance at events, classes etc. was 26,000, mainly young people. The Trust was founded in 1995 and since then has been the ONLY Traditional Dance Organisation core-funded by the Scottish Arts Council (SAC)

Shockingly the Scottish Arts Council has REFUSED STDT's application for funding from 2009-2011 along with 4 other Scottish Traditional Arts Organisations.

STDT need to secure the Trusts future that is now very uncertain. STDT protects Scotlands national traditions and culture.

STDT's pledge of support has so far been signed by the following celebrities:

Gordon Ramsay (celebrity chef)

Ashley Jensen (actress)

Kenneth Cranham (actor)

John Michie (actor)

Barbara Dickson (singer)

Evelyn Glennie DBE (percussionist)

Richard Wilson (actor)

Blythe Duff (actress)

Ken Loach (film director)

Robbie Shepherd (broadcaster)

Jane McCarry (actress)

Robert Fyfe (actor)

Laura Fraser (actress)

Billy Anderson (broadcaster)

Karen Whitefield (MSP)

I........................................pledge my support to the Scottish Traditions of Dance Trust who have been refused funding in the Scottish Arts Council (SAC) recent flexible funding decisions.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT STDT WITH THIS CAUSE PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT US AND WE CAN FORWARD ON A SUPPORT PLEDGE LETTER TO YOU