Scottish Dance Workshop

Come along for a mixed-form dance workshop featuring old-style Scottish folk dances, Cape Breton Step dancing, and Highland dancing! Ages 14+ Taught by Laura Scott With live Fiddle from Ed Pearlman These forms of dance share common structures and foundations, and the workshop will focus on movements and steps that appear in each, although they look and feel somewhat different. The Scottish snap in the music is undoubtedly reflected in all of these forms! We’ll start by exploring some old-style Scottish folk steps, taken in large part from the research of J.P. and T.M. Flett in the mid-twentieth century, when they traversed Scotland collecting steps from interviews of people who had danced them in living memory. After learning some folk steps, we’ll move on to the basics of Cape Breton step-dancing. This percussive Scottish form travelled with the Highlanders who emigrated during the clearances to Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, where the dancing has since flourished. Next, we’ll focus on Highland dancing steps that parallel the steps from the other two forms, and we’ll wrap up with a fun medley to weave the strands together. Join the fun! No special footwear or experience is required! Please wear clothing that allows freedom of movement and shoes (not sandals) that can be kicked off to try some steps in your socks. https://laurascottdance.com/