Ruth Jappy

Ruth Jappy grew up with Irish music & dance - especially accordions, having a father & brother who both played. So it is no wonder she married Alex Jappy, a well-known Scottish accordionist. She started Scottish Country Dancing in Scarborough, Ontario in 1961, and danced with that club until 1978. She also danced in the Toronto Branch classes and served on the various Committees for several years. Ruth has taught workshops in Canada, the U.S., Australia & Japan also T.A.C. Summer School. She teaches the Delta Borderers SCD Class in Vancouver, and is also well known for teaching Old Time Dancing.

There is hardly a city in North America that hasn’t welcomed Ruth as a guest teacher, and with good reason. She is consistently well prepared and remains in control of her class with firmness sprinkled liberally with affection and smiles, repeating only if necessary, adding encouragement where appropriate, leaving each dancer with a feeling of joyful accomplishment. She stresses pleasantly the use of music in dancing, commenting that the latter would be nothing without it.

Ruth Jappy has contributed extensively and unstintingly to Scottish Country dancing, willingly and with above average ability. Yet, as busy as her own schedule keeps her, she takes time to encourage young people to participate as insurance for the future. A future that will provide coming generations of dancers and musicians with the joy and sharing she has found in Scottish country dancing, and has done so much to promote.

Delta, BC

Malcolm Brown

Started dancing in the mid 60’s, passed the teaching certificate at St Andrews in 1972, and formed the York & North Humberside branch (jointly with Helen) in 1975. Served as branch Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, as well as a committee member. Represented the branch for many years at the Executive Council, and was a member of the Management Board for five years, initially helping to develop the website and more recently as part of the group which organises the Conference weekend, as well as chairing the Technique panel for two years.

Taught a regular weekly branch class in York for over thirty years, as well as day, weekend and longer schools in the UK, Europe and other parts of the world such as Japan. Tutored several teacher training courses over the years, most recently one for the Newcastle branch in 2006/7.

Attended the summer school in St Andrews from 1989 to 2005, and danced in both the Highland and country dance displays. Since taking early retirement at the end of 2000, we have been on dancing related holidays to Peru, Russia, Japan, South Africa, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, and attended the Australian, New Zealand and TAC schools.

Produced videos and DVDs for the Society showing the dances in Books 40-45, (including shooting the raw material, editing the footage, and supplying the DVDs).

Yorkshire, England

Helen Brown

Helen started Scottish dancing in her late teens and loved it straight away. She passed her Teachers Certificate in 1974 and started the York and North Humberside Branch with Malcolm in 1975. She has taught many different levels of class within the Branch including a Children’s Class for over 10 years. She is very keen that children should learn to dance as it can be very fulfilling for them particularly if they are not that good at sport. She has adjudicated at a few Children’s Dance Festivals recently.

She has attended many day and weekend schools in the UK, Europe and Overseas. She has also attended the TAC Summer School twice, the Australian Winter School and the New Zealand Summer School, as well as St Andrews every year for fifteen years. She co-taught one of the afternoon classes at the 2007 TAC Summer School.

She was on the Education & Training committee for two years during the development and introduction of the new examination system.

Yorkshire, England