Friends, fun and exotic music are all characteristics of the Scottish Country Dancers of Iowa State.

Scottish dancing appeals to artistic- and scientific-minded students because of its “formal social structure,” said Holly Fuchs, instructor of Scottish dance from 1992 to 2000.

“This dance is a wonderful physical, mental and social challenge,” Fuchs said. “It appeals to people who are more comfortable in a structured situation.”

Scottish dancing, developed in the late 1700s, is characterized by movement from the hips down.

“The local group formed in 1989 to preserve this dance form, and we grew from there,” said Linda Lieberman, teacher for the Central Iowa Branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society. Iowa State’s campus group is a division of the society.

Teamwork is a dominant feature in Scottish dancing, Lieberman said. “There are four to six other people in a set, so the focus is on working as a group rather than in pairs,” she said.

The ISU division meets Monday nights and the larger Ames branch meets Friday nights, Lieberman said. There are generally 10 to 12 participants at Iowa State and eight to 22 participants at the Ames meetings, she said.

Scottish and Celtic music is an important part of the dancing, Lieberman said.

“If you are of Scottish or Irish heritage, participating in this can be really fun,” she said.

“It’s also great to participate in a historical event like this, with its prescribed patterns and beautiful music.”

Students in the organization are invited to the Central Iowa Chapter’s Spring Ball, held in May.

“The event is held in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union and includes performances from professional musicians,” Lieberman said.

Molly Weber, president of the Scottish Country Dancers of ISU, said interacting with the public is a benefit of being in the organization.

“We get to do demonstrations in public,” said Weber, sophomore in animal science. “It’s fun because we get to practice different dances and interact with people.”

The casual atmosphere allows experienced and non-experienced dancers to participate, Weber said.

“We’re not formal,” she said. “Uniforms aren’t required and we always just have fun with it.”

Scottish dancing is a good way to stay in shape as well, Weber said.

“It’s good exercise with good music,” she said.