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ROYAL SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCE SOCIETY NEW YORK BRANCH INC
New York, NY · EIN 133133932 · Form 990EZ · FY2024 · Micro (<$100K) · rscdsnewyork.org
revenue
$43K
expenses
$44K
net assets
$50K
employees
—
mission · from form 990

The RSCDS New York Branch fulfills its cultural and educational purposes by providing instruction in Scottish Country Dancing that is a modern version of European social dancing. RSCDS New York provides opportunities for instruction and practice of the dance at a residential weekend event, at regular weekly classes, an annual formal gathering and scheduled social events as introduction to the dancing and with contributions to teacher training. The RSCDS New York Branch income and expenses, although recovering, continue to be reduced due to the effects of the covid19 pandemic.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society New York Branch promotes Scottish cultural heritage through instruction and social events centered on Scottish Country Dancing. It offers weekly classes, seasonal dances, and special events like Burns Night and the Jeannie Carmichael Ball for dancers of all levels. The organization serves a local community in New York City, with activities focused on education, tradition, and social connection.

named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Burns Night Ceilidh
Annual celebration honoring Robert Burns featuring live music, traditional Scottish food, whisky, and dancing, including the ceremonial Address to the Haggis.
Jeannie Carmichael Night
Annual dance event honoring a former RSCDS member, featuring live music and formalwear encouraged, held each December at Metro Baptist Church.
Summer Dancing Series
Seasonal dance program held from July through August, offering continuous opportunities for Scottish country dancing during the summer months.
Weekly Scottish Country Dance Classes
Weekly Thursday evening classes in New York City for all levels, focusing on beginner instruction from 7:00–8:15 PM and social dancing for experienced dancers from 8:30–10:00 PM.
activities · 2 groups

What they do

  • Irish and Scottish Cultural Performance & Instruction 3 activities
    • Host social dance events and formal gatherings
      Organizes and hosts social dance events including ceilidh nights with live music, Highland Balls, and themed parties such as Burns Night celebrations featuring traditional food, whisky, live music, and the Address to the Haggis. Events are held in person (e.g., at Metro Baptist Church, Brooklyn, and Pawling) and virtually via Zoom, including annual formal gatherings and weekend residential events.
    • Provide instruction in Scottish traditional music
      Offers instruction in Scottish traditional music, including strathspeys and jigs, during dedicated sessions such as those held at ESCape Week and other educational events.
    • Support teacher training in Scottish country dance
      Contributes to the training and development of instructors in Scottish Country Dancing, enhancing teaching capacity within the community.
  • Ballet and Dance Education Programs 1 activity
    • Offer Scottish country dance instruction through regular classes and programs
      Provides weekly Scottish country dance classes with beginner-focused instruction in the first half and social dancing for experienced dancers in the second half. Offers an annual class series from September through June and a summer program from July through mid-August, including online classes via Zoom every Thursday at 7:30pm, consisting of a 45-minute lesson followed by social time. Makes recordings of past classes available on YouTube for remote access.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$43K
Contributions & grants$3K7%
Program service revenue$39K89%
Investment income$20%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$44K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$1K
balance sheet
Total assets$51K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$50K
4 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -12.2%
relationships · 15

Who they work with

  • Bonnie and her team Partner — Provided logistical and operational support for the Pawling 2022 event.
  • Daniel Scher Partner — Presented on the connections between origami and Scottish dancing at a RSCDS New York event.
  • Food Network Partner — Linked as a source for a limoncello recipe.
  • Gunther Anderson Partner — Linked as a resource for liqueur-making recipes and information.
  • Lara Friedman-Shedlov Partner — Teaching partner in Scottish country dancing at ESCape Week.
  • Metro Baptist Church Partner — Hosts the Jeannie Carmichael Night event at its facility.
  • Metro Baptist Church Partner — Hosts the organization's ceilidh night events
  • Metro Baptist Church Partner — Provides venue space for weekly dance classes and events.
  • Peter Macfarlane Partner — Instructor in Scottish traditional music at ESCape Week.
  • Royal Scottish Country Dance Society Network — Recognized as the parent organization of which the New York branch is a part.
  • Serious Eats Partner — Linked as a source for DIY liqueur recipes and guidance.
  • Smitten Kitchen Partner — Linked as a source for a homemade Irish cream recipe.
  • Torrent Partner — Provides live music for the Burns Night ceilidh event.
  • Torrent Partner — Provides live music for the Jeannie Carmichael Night event.
  • Zoom Partner — Platform used to host online dance classes and social events
strategies · 2

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Cultural Immersion Through Participatory Dance Education
    methodology: cultural-immersion-through-education
    By teaching Scottish country dancing as a living cultural practice through structured instruction and immersive events, the organization fosters deeper cultural understanding and sustained engagement, because embodied participation creates a more meaningful connection to heritage than passive learning.
  • Inclusive Community Participation Across Generations and Skill Levels
    methodology: inclusive_community_participation
    By designing classes and events that welcome all ages and experience levels — including structured onboarding for beginners and intergenerational formats — the organization builds sustained community engagement, because accessibility and belonging increase retention and broaden cultural transmission.