Fótatraðk

Participants join hands and get in step to music at Banchory

By Leanna MacLarty

Published: 14/06/2010

A NEW world record for the number of people taking part in a traditional chain dance has been set at a Deeside fair.

About 50 people braved heavy rain to set the new record at the St Ternan’s Fair at Banchory yesterday.

The traditional style of dance, thought to be the root of Auld Lang Syne, has died out in this country but is still performed in the Faroe Islands each year.

Participants, ranging in ages from a toddler to pensioners, joined hands and performed the simple dance steps to music.

Organiser Anne Lamb said: “We are putting the gauntlet down for any other Scottish people to do a circle dance and try and beat the record.

“Circle dancing was done across Europe in the mediaeval times.

“The Scots were known for being particularly good at all kinds of dancing. It’s part of our heritage and culture.”

Evidence of the attempt will be sent to the Guinness Book of Records for verification.

All three Banchory councillors were among the dancers setting the new world record. Linda Clark said: “It’s been super to stand beside all sorts of people. There was tremendous inclusiveness, which is what community spirit is all about.”

The record attempt was among the highlights of the annual heritage fair which attracted thousands of visitors over three days.

It followed on from the success of the introduction of the world’s first talking Doric dictionary at last year’s fair.

Other St Ternan’s favourites included ferret racing at Bellfield Park, a Pictish settlement at Banchory Museum and the Banchory Birl, a celebration of the area’s history and culture through traditional singing, dancing and poetry.

Councillor Karen Clark said: “It’s just a huge community effort that seems to attract everyone.”

Fellow councillor Jill Webster said: “The events are very unusual, particularly the ferret racing and the dancing record. It’s good that people are supporting a local event despite the weather.”