SFDH Logo (tiny)

The Society of Folk Dance Historians (SFDH)

C. Stewart Smith

[ Home | About | Encyclopedia |
| Publications | Members ]

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

C. Stewart Smith

BACKGROUND

Information: Cedric Stewart Smith, teacher of Scottish country dance.


Stewart, born in 1929 in Dundee, Scotland, was affectionately known as "Scotty," although he preferred to be called Stewart. He supported himself solely by the teaching of Scottish dancing.

Stewart was versed in both Highland and Scottish Country Dancing. His first love was Highland, where he was both a teacher and an adjudicator at Highland Dancing competitions. He held the Teacher's Certificate of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society (RSCDS), had a very pleasing manner, and knew how to bring the most out of the dancers in his classes. Stewart taught Scottish Country Dancing in his own studio. He taught the Tearn of the San Francisco Scottish Dancing club.

In 1960, Stewart was invited to be on the staff of the Stockton Folk Dance Camp in Stockton, California. Following that successful session, he was invited to teach at the Santa Barbara Folk Dance Conference in Santa Barbara, California. He also taught the Mendocino Folklore Camp in Mendocino, California, in 1969.

Early Scottish Country Dancers in Los Angeles, California, consisted almost exclusively of folk dancers who built the Los Angeles Scottish Country Dancers from scratch. In the late 1960s in Los Angeles, The Team, a Scottish Country Dance demonstration group that had been taught by Stewart (who communted weekends from his home in San Francisco) was formed. Some of its members were David and Lois Brandon, Ruth Garber, Nitche Graham, Anthony Ivancich, John and Susan Tiffany, Larry White, and Vickie White. The Team performed primarily for Folk Dance Festivals.

It was Stewart who helped these dancers form a Branch of the RSCDS in Los Angeles, California, recognized on December 11, 1965. Stewart was made an honorary member by vote of the Committee of Management, which included David Brandon, Vickie White, Avis Tarvin, and Richard Goss (and not a Scot among 'em!).

For many years, Stewart taught classes in Houston, Texas , and it was through Stewart's efforts that the Houston and District Branch of the RSCDS was officially formed on November 7, 1978.

C. Stewart Smith was known as the premier Scottish dance instructor in the United States until his death in 1982 in Eastern Canada, where he was judging at the Eastern Canadian Championships. A "C. Stewart Smith Memorial" was established to award Scottish Country dancers. The principles and values set by Stewart are the standards that thousands of dancers, teachers, and judges still try to achieve.

Cedric Stewart Smith died of a heart attack (after receiving open-heart surgery earlier) on July 8, 1982, leaving his wife Joan.

Dances Stewart taught include A Trip to Tobermory, Angus MacLeod, Axum Reel, Bees of Maggieknockater, Belle of Bon Accord, Bonnie Anne (Lagach Anna), Ca' the Ewes Tae the Knowes, Camp of Pleasure, Cauld Kail, Ceilidh, Cumberland Reel, Dashing White Sergeant, Deuks Dang Ou're My Daddie (Juse As I Was In the Morning), Farewell to Auchterarder, Flowers of Edinburgh, The Frisky, Garry Strasthspey, Gentle Shepherd, Hesitation Waltz, Highland Fling, Highland Reel, Highland Schottische, Hooper's Jig, I'll Mak' Ye Fain to Follow Me, Irish Rover, Janet's Delight, Jenny's Bawbee, John McAlpin, Just As I Was In the Morning (The deuks Dang Ou're My Daddie), La Russe, La Tempête, Lady Auckland's Reel, Lagach Anna (An Rioghal Leanabh), Lauderdale Lads, Leith Country Dance, Mairi's Wedding, Middleton Medley, Montgomeries' Rant, Newhall, Palais Glide, Polharrow Burn, Postie's Jig, Pide of Erin, Prince of Orange, Princess Royal, Red House Reel (Where Would Bonnie Annie Lie?), Reel of the Fifty-First Division, Rest and Be Thankful, Robertson's Rant, Roy's Reel, Scottish Lilt, Shepherd's Crook, Ship o' Grace, Silver Tassie, Tae Gar ye Loup, The Braes of Breadalbane, The Braes of Mellinish, The Earl of Errol's Reel, The Glens of Angus, The Reel of May, The Sailor, The Saint John River, The Sark Bridge, The Wild Geese, Thirteen-Fourteen (1314), Trip to Bavaria, Trip to Tobermory, Village Reel, Waverly (Fergus McIver), West's Hornpipe, and White Heather Jig.


This page © 2018 by Ron Houston.
Please do not copy any part of this page without including this copyright notice.
Please do not copy small portions out of context.
Please do not copy large portions without permission from Ron Houston.