Spotlight on SLIPSTOP
March 28, 2022
If you have attended RSCDS events or Scottish Country Dancing classes, you would be familiar with SLIPSTOP. This fine powder is widely used by Scottish Country dancers to provide a temporary solution to the dancer problem: an un-danceable surface, a slippery floor! This is a brief history of the product:
Used in various ways, either by sprinkling a bit on the floor or by putting some directly under your sole, this product has become an essential for Scottish dance classes, events or at competition.
SLIPSTOP was originally produced, by hand, in the garage of the Scottish National Dance Company (SNDC) in Reading, by Colin Robertson and Lewis Innes in the 70’s. The three components parts were ground up with a small coffee bean grinder, weighed, packaged and sealed in plastic. ‘Soon this joyous hand processing was contracted out’, wrote Colin.
In 2011, Colin, remaining partner of the SNDC gifted the right to manufacture and sell SLIPSTOP to the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society. We were given the formulae with the instruction to give the powder composition to a few people only as they wanted it to remain a secret.
“Many had the product chemically analysed, taken guesses and speculated on the composition - it has been a constant source of amusement to Lewis and myself over the years!” - Colin Robertson
SLIPTOP is entirely safe to use as it does not contain any hazardous components! SLIPSTOP consists in fact of a binary mixture of finely ground organic soaps.
Since 2011, the Society has sold over thousands of bottles across the globe and it has become one of our top selling products. We are also pleased to see a growing popularity with ballroom dancers and other dance schools.
Colin, from Reading (UK), who emigrated to Oregon, is a teacher, researcher, lecturer and choreographer. He is also known for organising competitions, awards, instructional days in highland and country dancing.
Colin, with Lewis Innes (1941-2010) ran the Scottish National Dance Company from 1971 to 2011.
"Slip Stop is a great invention – it does exactly as it says on the package. A dance floor which is ‘non-slip’ gives extra confidence, particularly to inexperienced and elderly dancers" - Linda, Teacher of Scottish Country Dance
