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Port Perry Scottish Country Dancers Every Thursday night the Port Perry Scottish Country Dancers take to the floor of the Utica Memorial Hall. The local group was founded in 1999 when Stewart Bennett, owner of Port Perry’s Wee Tartan Shop, and Doug Moffatt, former mayor of Scugog Township, watched a group of country dancers from Toronto perform at Durham’s Highland games. “Country dancing is different from Highland dancing,” Marjorie Ma- son, the group’s president explained. “Highland dancing is usually done by individuals as entertainment for oth- ers, whereas country dancing is done for pleasure.” After a trip to Scotland in 2000, Stewart asked Marjorie to join the group. She became president the next year and still holds that position. Country dancing has its roots in the ballrooms of France where Mary, Queen of Scots, discovered it and brought it back to her homeland. Many of the dance formations have retained their original French names. Marjorie, during a trip to Denmark went to a public dance only to learn that the Danes enjoy similar danc- ing. “It makes sense,” she said. “The Vikings did settle in Scotland for a number of years.” “Most people don’t realize that the Scots, when they came to North America, brought Country dancing with them. It is now called square dancing, but is very similar, including some of the names of the formations. Since its inception the Port Perry Country dance group has been twirl- ing in the Utica Memorial Hall, but this January they have moved to the legion. Bill Minor, of Books Galore and More, is treasurer of the group 28 FOCUS - JANUARY 2009 and Stewart Bennett is Vice President. Neither misses a meeting or event. The group has been involved in six ‘White Heather Balls’ where such notable bands as Bobby Brown have performed. This year marks the 250th anniversary of Robbie Burns and Port Most people don’t realize that the Scots brought country dancing with them to North America Members of the Port Perry Scottish Country Dancers during a rehearsal.