The Hip Bumpers

Ladies From SWRI Limber Up For Their ‘Hip Bumping’ Performance

A Scottish Women’s Rural Institute dance troupe ‘The Hip Bumpers’ are set to perform their preview performance tomorrow [18 April 2006], which sees them perform a fusion of Egyptian sand dancing and Scottish country dancing.
Performed by ten members of SWRI’s Banffshire Federation, the ladies will showcase their act for the first time outside of their own organisation to entertain local Senior Citizens.

Sand Dance to Scottish country dancing music

Dot Bremner, Press Secretary for the Botriphnie SWRI says, “The group has only performed twice before, entertaining our neighbouring WRIs. We attempted to perform the Egyptian Sand Dance to Scottish country dancing music which gave rise to much hilarity and was such good fun that the team decided to carry on and have called ourselves ‘The Hip Bumpers’”.

Dot goes on to explain that the audience are taught the routine and invited to join in, which guarantees a lot of laughter as well as being a great way of keeping fit.

Wheelchair Dances

“The group has devised a number of dances, many of which can be done by wheelchair users or people with limited mobility. We make sure that the audience, as well as us, are warmed up properly before we dance, starting with a performance of the ‘The Botriphnie Boogie’, continues Dot, “The audience then get a rest while ‘The Hip Bumpers’ perform their exhibition dance ‘The Cock of the North’”.

‘The Hip Bumpers’ will be entertaining The Senior Citizen’s Club at Seafield Hall, Portknockie, Banffshire on 18 April at 7pm, where all are welcome to join in the fun.

The SWRI has in the region of 25,000 members of all ages across Scotland, who make up around 1,000 local institutes. The SWRI encourages home skills, considers family welfare and citizenship, preserves the traditions of rural Scotland, enhances awareness of Scotland's rural heritage, works for international co-operation and understanding amongst women and encourages home and local small industries, both individual and co-operative. SWRI members can attend classes, events or simply enjoy the friendship of fellow members at monthly meetings.

More about the work of the SWRI can be found at
www.swri.org.uk or by calling SWRI headquarters in Edinburgh on 0131 225 1724.