Moray and North Aberdeenshire Easter Break

We've already discussed this at classes, but just to remind everyone:

Huntly:
Resource Centre Group continues as normal on Tuesday mornings.
Elgin:
Wednesday lunchtime classes are finished at the Community Centre and at Spynie. We will reconvene in mid April in new premises beside Council HQ. I will let you know final details asap. Also, I'm looking at the possibility of offering a class + soup & sandwich +drink deal if folk are interested.
Gartly:
Wednesday evening class at the Tin Hut will run this week then no class for the next two weeks. Class will restart on 22nd April.
Elgin Red Shoes Theatre:
Thursday morning classes at the Red Shoes will not run for the next 2 weeks. Class will restart on Thursday 16th April.

I hope everyone has a great Easter break.

London classes Easter break

There is class as normal tomorrow night, 1st April, then we are off for two weeks and resume on 22nd April. There will also be 121 classes over the holidays, after all. If you need to get hold of me, sending a text is the best bet. I hope everyone has a creative and relaxing Spring.

Weapons Practise 4th April

The next weapons practise session is at the Masonic Hall, Inverurie 7-10pm on Saturday 4th April. We'll work on sabre and staff and review the new posture of the straight sword.
Jasmine tea will be provided and we'll share the price of the hall (£30).

Further sessions are scheduled for 2nd May & 6th June at the same venue.

Summer Intensive

Here's a poster for the summer workshop. If you'd like to put one up near you, email me, and I will send the file.

Long Form class

Reminder this week's Long Form class is at 7:30pm at the Masonic Hall, Inverurie. We'll revise the start of the Long Form for anyone who missed Caroline's class last week.

Oldmeldrum Class - Easter Break

Just a reminder that there will be no class at Oldmeldrum on 30th March or 6th April.

Next term at Turriff

The new term dates for Turriff are now confirmed as 20th April to 29th June, except 4th May and 1st June. New beginners will be very welcome. Enrol via the Gateway Centre on 01888 562562.

Central School of Speech and Drama

I taught T'ai Chi to the Devised and Colaborative Theatre BA 1st Years for 9 weeks at CSSD. It was a completely different experience from regular classes; at some point I'll write a few words about it. Well done to all the students for their great work, and good luck for the future. Thanks to Rob for assisting.

Staff partner work last weekend in Aberdeenshire.

The trees at Fetternear Hall, where most Great River T'ai Chi Aberdeenshire classes are held, as well as the Scottish intensives of The T'ai Chi Centre.

2009 Dates

What a great weekend in Aberdeenshire... Well done all for great work. Here's the dates up until August break.

April workshops with Caro (£10 / £8 unless stated)
Thurs 16th 7.30-9.30pm: Long Form (hall hire + £3).
Fri 17th 7-10pm: Ta Lu & stepping partnerwork.
Sat 18th 2-5pm: Uprooting, sensitivity training, yielding, etc.
Sat 18th 6.30-9.30pm: Weapons training.
Sun 19th 2-5pm: Short Form and partnerwork, beginners welcome.
Sun 19th 6.30-9.30pm: Dance (San Shou) Those who missed first lesson are welcome to come and catch up at this session.

There is one slot for a 121 available at 10.30am on Monday 30th.

May workshops with Mark (£15 / £10)
Fri 15th 7-10pm: Ta Lu & stepping partnerwork.
Sat 16th 2-5pm: Long Form
Sat 16th 6.30-9.30pm: Weapons training.
Sun 17th 2-5pm: Short Form and partnerwork, beginners welcome.
Sun 17th 6.30-9.30pm: Dance (San Shou)

Class finish times approximate!

121s available with me Sat 11am, Sun 11am, Mon 10.30am. These can be booked when I am up in April.

June workshops with Caro (£10 / £8)
Fri 19th 7-10pm: Ta Lu & stepping partnerwork.
Sat 20th 2-5pm: Long Form
Sat 20th 6.30-9.30pm: Weapons training.
Sun 21st 2-5pm: Short Form and partnerwork, beginners welcome.
Sun 21st 6.30-9.30pm: Dance (San Shou)

121s Sat 11am, Mon 10.30am, bookable on my May visit.

4th annual July week - long workshop will be from 24th - 31st.

Aberdeenshire workshops this weekend with Caro

Thursday 19th 7.30-9:30pm: Long Form and introduction to Long Form for all new to it. Games Room, Monymusk Hall. Price is the regular Thursday class cost plus £3 fee to Caro.

The following sessions are at Fetternear Hall; price £10 / £8.
Friday 20th 7-10pm: Ta Lu, Wabu and stepping partnerwork.

Saturday 21st 2-5pm: Partnerwork, all levels welcome.
Saturday 21st 6.30-9.30pm: Weapons: bring staff, sword and sabre.

Sunday 22nd 2-5pm: 'Sunday drop-in', Short Form, partnerwork, etc., all levels welcome.
Sunday 22nd 6.30- 9.30pm: Introduction to 'The Dance' or San Shou.

Bring food to share between the sessions on Saturday and Sunday.

The weapons day in London was a great success with 22 students working on sword, sabre and staff. The next workshop is on 26th April.

Picture shows folks doing straight sword in the foreground, and behind them, Mark leading the sabre group.

Inverurie and Turriff Beginners next term

The Inverurie term ends Wednesday 18th March. The next term will run for 10 weeks, starting 22nd April until 1st July (no class on 24th June). Price is £50/25. Re-enrollment forms will be at class for current students, anyone else interested in joining the class should contact the Garioch Community Centre on 01467 620353 to enrol.

Turriff class runs until 23rd March. Dates and prices for next term are to be confirmed, but likely to be 20th April start after the Aberdeenshire schools return after the Easter break. I'll post details as soon as they're available. Enrol via the Gateway Centre on 01888 562562.

Long Form class info

Here's the list of who will take class each week this term:
19-Mar Caroline [Monymusk Hall, Games Room]
26-Mar Neil
2-Apr Sandy
9-Apr Scott [Kemnay Hall, Friendship Room]
16-Apr Caroline
23-Apr Alison
30-Apr Anneke
7-May Dave
14-May Davina

More details here

Note from Caro: If you are unable to lead the class you are allocated above, please let Davina know before the class is due to start. Thanks.

The Yongle Dadian : The Ming Encyclopaedia

This lecture on Monday night in Aberdeen may be of interest.

Friends of Aberdeen University Library, The Aberdeen University Chinese Studies Group, and Marischal Evening Lecture Series : Monday 16 March in The Old Senate Room, King’s College at 7.30 p.m.

David Helliwell, Curator of the Chinese Collections, The Bodleian Library, Oxford will give a talk on The Yongle Dadian : The Ming Encyclopaedia

"The manuscript is a single fascicle from the famous Chinese encyclopaedia Yongle dadian, one of the biggest bibliographical enterprises ever undertaken in any civilisation. It originated in a decision taken by the third Ming emperor during the first year of his reign to preserve all known literature. The project had a team of 147 assistants, and the first manuscript was presented to the throne in December 1404, but the emperor considered it insufficient. He therefore appointed a team of two co-directors and a further 2,169 scholars to continue the work, which was completed in 1408. The encyclopaedia consisted of a total 22,877 jüan (chapters) in 11,095 large volumes, sumptuously executed on fine white paper ruled in vermilion, and bound in hard boards covered with yellow silk. In 1562 the order was given to produce a copy, and this was completed in 1567 by a team of over 100 scholars. When the Boxer rebels attacked the Legation Quarter in Peking in 1900, the Hanlin Academy (which was situated there) was burned down, and almost all that remained of Yongle dadian was destroyed except for some 60 or so volumes, and a few dozen that those of the western allies who were aware of its importance were able to pluck from the flames. In 1960, a reproduction of all extant parts of Yongle dadian was published in Peking, a total of 730 jüan. A further 67 jüan subesequently came to light, and were included in a second reproduction published in 1986.

The Aberdeen Volume (MS 1143) is in Special Libraries & Archives, a description of which was supplied after examination of text by David Helliwell of the Bodleian Library in 1999. It was gifted in 1922 by Sir James Russell Brazier, (fl 1875-1921), an orientalist, who rescued the manuscript from the Academy fire of 1900."

Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle

My good friend Stew's TV show goes out on Monday 16th March at 10pm on BBC2 and continues in that slot for 3 or 4 weeks. I went to watch previews of the show and I loved it, part stand-up, part sketches and full of his usual intelligent, left-field humour. Got a feeling the narrow-minded will be somewhat offended by it, but getting irate seems to be what they like best... I loved it.

Aberdeenshire Long Form class March to May, and beyond

The new term will run 7:30-10:00pm on Thursdays for 9 weeks from 19th March to 14th May. Caroline will take the classes on 19th March and 16th April.
We're at our usual venue of the Masonic Hall, Inverurie except for the following 2 weeks:

• 19th March is in the games room at Monymusk Hall
• 9th April is in the Friendship room, Kemnay.

Price will be £20 if you're paying for the term, £3 if you're paying week by week. The list of who will be leading each class will be published soon.

Future terms: the Masonic Hall is booked through to the end of August for Thursday classes, apart from 21st May when it is closed for repairs so we'll be at the Wyness Hall, Inverurie. The prices for future terms will be reviewed once we have an idea of the number of regular attendees after the intro session for new folks on 19th March.

2009 workshop dates

Here's a reminder of the dates and venues for the workshops with Caroline and Mark for the rest of the year. Dates given are the Saturday of the workshop weekend. Details of each workshop will be posted nearer the time.
March 21st Fetternear (Caroline)
April 18th Fetternear (Caroline)
May 16th Gartly (Mark) - Friday evening at Kemnay
June 20th Fetternear (Caroline)
July 25th Weeklong Workshop, Fetternear (Mark)
Sept 5th Fetternear (Caroline)
Oct 31st 4 day workshop, Fetternear plus 3 days 121s@ Davina & Paolo's (Mark)
Nov 28th Fetternear (Caroline)

Sabre practise - 7th March

The next sabre practise session is at the Masonic Hall 7-10pm Saturday 7th March. We'll also review the staff exercise and the new posture of the straight sword.
Jasmine tea will be provided and we'll share the price of the hall (£30).

Further sessions are scheduled for 4th April, 2nd May, 6th June at the same venue.

News

I had some great feedback about the weekend. You may have noticed, but neither Mark nor I are doing any total beginners sessions right now... We hope to give proportionally more to all the loyal students who already come along, as there is so much great stuff to be getting on with. However, if any one of the Aberdeenshire senior students would like to organise a 2 hour introduction to T'ai Chi for total beginners, in their locale, I will happily give up my Saturday morning of my monthly visit to come and teach that, rather than eat croissants or do 121s. So if you think that's what's needed in your area, let me know. I can help by providing basic posters, etc.

Mark isn't really doing any total beginners things in London either. People who want to join his classes turn up once to see if it appeals. Then they get 121s with Hamid, David or myself and slip into class when ready. That way, the regular students get plenty of attention and folks who are just 'shopping around' tend to be filtered out. I get beginners to call me and have a 121 before joining Hackney. Next January I hope to encourage Rob to start a beginners session. They will then all be welcome at HRC, of course. However, we have just started the Long Form and finished the Sabre Form, so it's a really lovely time with the regulars, and their loyalty deserves my full attention.

Lastly, If any students South or North would like me to email them the Sabre Song document, let me know. It was a great pleasure last night to show the London sabreurs the Song, and to work from it. They liked it as much as did the Aberdeenshire posse. There is a great deal of insight and instruction in those few lines, and I plan to work on it over this year.

Proposed plans for March Aberdeenshire workshops

These are my plans, let me know if you need me to change any times or dates.

Thursday 19th 7.30-9.30pm: (venue TBC) Long Form and introduction to Long Form for all new to it. Cost: share of room hire plus £3. Monymusk Hall.
Friday 20th 7-10pm: Ta Lu, Wabu and stepping partnerwork.
Saturday 21st 2-5pm: Partnerwork, all levels welcome.
Saturday 21st 6.30-9.30pm: Weapons: bring staff, sword and sabre.
Sunday 22nd 2-5pm: 'Sunday drop-in', Short Form, partnerwork, etc., all levels welcome.
Sunday 22nd 6.30- 9.30pm: Introduction to 'The Dance' or San Shou.

All the other sessions are £10 / £8 and at Fetternear Hall. We couldn't get it for the Thursday, sorry if it's a long schlep for some of you, we're working on that!

A 121 is available on Friday 3.30pm, let me know if you'd like it.