"Everyone can dance, when they find music that they love." Whether it's the first few bars of a hornpipe or the exhilaration of leading down the middle and back, something about Scottish music captivates people, and keeps them coming back for more.

A group of dancers in Illinois felt that same passion for the Scottish dance, which led them to meet up on February 7, 1980 at the Community Foundation Center for Palos Park to start a class together. Seven happy years of dancing later, they were granted branch status and, helmed by certificated teachers Martin Mulligan and David and Avril Quarrie, they became the Chicago Branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society.

Since those early days, our community has grown. We have two regular classes: Loch Mich, which meets downtown, and Silk and Thistle, which meets in the suburbs. Our demo team also performs Scottish dance at festivals and events in venues across the city ranging from the Chicago Highland Games to the Museum of Science and Industry.

Together, our branch hosts a variety of events including spring and fall dances and a New Years Ball. We also team up with the Milwaukee and Madison branches to host the Midwest Scottish Weekend every summer, inviting teachers and musicians from across the country.