Madison Scottish Country Dancers invite you to join us for our 45th Annual Sapphire Ball!

Help us celebrate our 45th annual ball with sapphire-like sparkle! Besides our traditional ball, complete with sit-down dinner and stellar musicians, this year’s weekend will have a few new traditions. Our favorite duo, Parcel of Rogues, is taking on a Slavic feel this spring! Susie and Calum will play with a guest fiddler originally from Uzbekistan, KeyReel Raskolenko. The trio will be joined for part of the program by fiddler Dave Mullen and piper Andrew Seevers, both from the Madison band Lochanside. Bring your instruments to “Play Together” with our talented ball musicians before their Friday concert. Extend your dance music knowledge with a low-impact dance workshop Saturday morning. And top off the weekend with parties and new friendships!

Weekend Schedule

Friday, March 28

Bethany Ministry Center/Evangelical Free Church

(Parking behind church and on side streets. Enter from parking lot.)

Music Workshop
7:00 - 7:45 pm - Scottish Music “Play Together” Workshop for all instruments, led by concert musicians. Bring your instrument: whistle, flute, violin, cello, saxophone, accordion and come and try some authentic Scottish repertoire! All are welcome at any age and experience level. Suggested donation: $15 at the door. Includes concert & dessert buffet. Listeners are welcome.

Concert
8:00 - 9:00 pm - Featuring the best in Scottish music, old and new. All selections will be introduced from the stage to enhance your appreciation of the music. Suggested donation: $15 at the door. Includes dessert buffet after the concert.

Saturday, March 29

All activities at Memorial Union

800 Langdon St., Madison 53706

Prices vary, see Registration forms for details.

Dance Workshop with Susie Petrov

11:00 am - 12:00 pm

A low-impact session on dancing to jigs/reels/Strathspeys incorporating portions of the evening's ball dances.

Festival Room (lower level west wing--follow signs to Wheelhouse Studios)

Ball Program Walkthroughs

1:00 - 2:30 pm Beginner Walkthrough (1st year dancers)

Old Madison Room (3rd floor)

1:00 - 2:30 pm Advanced Walkthrough

Class of 1924 Room (4th floor)

4:30 pm Social Hour with Cash Bar

Great Hall, 4th Floor

5:30 pm Sit-down Dinner

Great Hall, 4th Floor

7:00 pm Grand March and Ball

Musicians: Susie Petrov, Calum Pasqua and Guest Artist KeyReel Raskolenko with Dave Mullen

Piper: Andrew Seevers

11:30 pm After-Ball Party at a member's home*

Sunday, March 30

10:00 am Potluck Brunch at a member’s home*

*Maps available at ball

Health Policy

We suggest taking a Covid test before arriving. Full refunds are available for medical reasons.

Do not attend any of the weekend activities if you feel ill. Please test if you suspect you have contracted Covid. Follow the CDC guidelines about precautions and isolation if you have been exposed or if you have had Covid recently. Practice good hand hygiene. Masks are optional but welcome. We reserve the right to amend our policy if conditions warrant it.

Past Balls

2024 | 2023 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012

More past balls

Ball Program with Instructions

Ball Cribs/Video from SCDDB

Online Registration

Mail-in Registration

Our Musicians

A Parcel of Rogues

Susie Petrov & Calum Pasqua

This duo brings a wealth of Scottish music experience to Madison. Calum was the first American to win the Glenfiddich Scottish Fiddle Competition in Scotland and also holds a US Scottish Fiddle Championship. Susie, who plays both piano and accordion, is an accomplished Scottish Country Dance teacher who has shared her talents across the US, Canada, Scotland, and central Europe. Together they have some 50+ years of Scottish country dancing experience between them and have performed for concerts, balls, summer camps, and in biker bars in Queens.

KeyReel Raskolenko

KeyReel plays for RSCDS dances in his adopted home of Dallas, Texas. In addition to playing classical music and jazz, KeyReel was bitten by the "Celtic Music" bug as a teen and has never looked back. He works as a teacher, composer and performer. Susie first met KeyReel in that most modern of places, Facebook, on the recommendation of Alasdair Fraser. Susie and Calum are looking forward to bringing his fiddling prowess to RSCDS groups!

Our trio are also professional music teachers working in public schools in New York, Cambridge and Dallas.

Dave Mullen

Dave Mullen of Madison was mentored in performing Scottish dance music by our beloved musician Michael Briggs, and has played fiddle for our balls for decades. In retirement he is enjoying playing with the local Scottish folk band Lochanside.

Registration Information

Discount for cash/check payments! Walk-ins welcome (all except dinner). Pre-registration appreciated.

Register by mail/check or online/PayPal using the above buttons. Dinner registration deadline is March 14. Meal requests after March 14 not guaranteed; contact Registrar Barb Samdahl for availability.

Student Discount / Scholarships

We offer a $15 discount for students attending the ball and/or workshop. Scholarships are also available for those otherwise unable to attend. For more information, contact Barb Samdahl, Registrar, by March 14.

Silent Auction

There will be a silent auction with many fabulous items to purchase--bring your checkbook or cash! And bring your Venmo details/password if you'd like to pay that way. If you have an item to donate to the auction, print and fill out an auction bid sheet and bring it to the ball.

Hospitality/Accommodations

Please indicate on the registration form if you desire hospitality and also contact hospitality chair Carol Buelow. We will do our best to accommodate everyone, but can't guarantee it. Hotel information can be found at visitmadison.com/accommodations/ or by calling the Madison Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800 / 373-6376.