Ruth Budden

Having started dancing as a teenager, I have now clocked up more than 50 years of strathspeys, reels and jigs.  I started dancing at Te Awamutu, and over the years danced at most clubs in the Waikato (Hamilton Scottish, Lochiel, Huntly, Tokoroa, Taumarunui) before moving to Auckland nearly 30  years ago.

I gained my teacher’s certificate in 1982, but most of my teaching has been in the last 25 years.  Many thanks to Esther Mackay at Waitemata, who gave me the opportunity to teach alongside her – and I learnt plenty!

Highlights in my teaching career include teaching four sets in a Senior JAM class at a Summer School; having a lot of fun with an Advanced Low Impact class, again at a Summer School;  and watching a young dancer who I taught as a very shy 7 year old gain her Gold Bar Medal.

I have attended at least 20 Summer Schools in New Zealand, and have lost count of the weekend and day schools.  In addition, I have danced at two TAC schools in Canada, two winter schools in Australia, and made it to St Andrews Summer School twice

In recent years, I have also played fiddle for dancing in the Waikato-based band, Bourach Mor, and am often asked to call at ceilidhs.

I now look forward to the challenge of passing on my knowledge to the next generation of Scottish

Country Dance teachers in New Zealand, working with them in a collaborative way so they can achieve their potential.