Walks: Dancing in Georgian Edinburgh - All - (27/5) - OUT58686E

Activity description

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENTS: The weekly meeting point/itinerary will be sent to enrolled students prior to the course start date. None but a moderate level of fitness and mobility is required to walk a reasonable distance at a moderate pace on cobblestones, via steps and steep slopes. HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES: (If required) None OVERVIEW / INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE: New Town of Edinburgh, UNESCO World Heritage site from 1995, started from James Criag’s plan of 1767 and transformed Auld Reekie to ‘Athens of the North'. Social scene was an essential part of the new lifestyle with dance playing an important role in education and entertainment. Moreover, survived Georgian Street Assembly Rooms are now one of the gems of New Town Georgian architecture. A ball dedicated to the Queen Charlotte’s Birthday, similar to the one featured in Bridgerton series by Netflix, was one of the first events hosted in the elegant ballroom. The course will introduce students to the historical and social background of the 19th century Scottish dance scene in Edinburgh by exploring the streets and buildings connected with it. 5 h walk through the elegant streets of the New Town will focus on major centres of dance during the 1800s. Building and sites used to house ballrooms, theatres and dance schools will tell the stories of the people who enjoyed dancing and contributed to the development of Scottish dance scene. The tour will finish with a guided visit to the Scottish National Gallery to look at other material traces of dance activities of the Georgian period. HOW THE COURSE WILL BE TAUGHT: The course will take the form of a guided tour around the New Town of Edinburgh, exploring the City’s unique dance heritage from the late Georgian period. The walk will begin with a brief introduction before visiting relevant locations for a short discussion supplemented by images and maps. It will finish with a guided visit to the Scottish National Gallery to look at paintings of dancing scenes and to discuss them from a dance history point of view. WHAT STUDENTS CAN EXPECT TO LEARN: Students will be able to learn about Edinburgh’s rich and important dancing heritage from the late Georgian period and the still surviving places associated with it. The interaction of dance with the bigger picture of politics, society and the wider arts scene will also be considered. RESOURCES REQUIRED BY STUDENTS / ADDITIONAL COSTS: Waterproof, outdoor clothing, including sturdy shoes/boots should be worn. Please expect walking on cobblestones, uphill and on stairs. Students should bring pencils, notebooks, and cameras if they wish to make their own record of the class. The tours last for 5 hours. Please bring water to stay hydrated. Toilet and food breaks will be included in the itinerary. Food or drinks are not included in the course fees. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN BAD WEATHER: The walks will go ahead unless there are severe weather warnings in place, please dress appropriately. In case of wet weather, parts of the discussion could move indoors in cafes or museums on the way. If either of the walks require to be postponed because of bad weather forecasts, students will be notified directly of the postponement by the course tutors at least 24-hours in advance. The postponed walk will be rescheduled for a later date.