I’m writing this as I watch a gleeful group of students learning how to ceilidh dance – the traditional folk music and dance of Scotland. This historically illustrious dance (similar to barn dancing) is still popular in Scotland today, used as a means of facilitating festivities of all kinds. With a four-piece live band and a caller, the students are being guided through a series of dance sequences with fantastic results and smiles all around!
Students learning to ceilidh dance, Copyright OxTrad
Earlier today, auditions for Saturday’s talent show were held. The high levels of quality displayed by all of the students that tried out suggests that the talent show itself will be hotly contested this weekend; the Activities Directors were impressed by everything from classical Indian dancing to viola recitals, from self-composed guitar ballads to duo juggling. Our major concern is how to fit in all of the fantastic students we encountered in the 2 hours we have available for the show... OxTrad students keep surprising us with their hidden talents.
It seemed that today was a day for display of non-academic skills, as students were treated to a cooking workshop by one of OxTrad’s adjunct faculty members. This workshop encompassed a history of British foods as well as a demonstration of cooking methods and quintessential British delicacies. Both those who are avid cooks and those who haven’t spent much time in a kitchen were enthralled by the sophistication of a cuisine that is usually written off as a simple pie-and-chips fare.
OxTrad participants have been lucky over the past week with a fantastic sunny spell, which is always a treat in the unpredictable English summer. We’re hoping it will last through to the weekend – the final full weekend that the students have to spend in Oxford...
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