Mabou School of Cape Breton Step Dance
July 24-28, 2017
Mabou, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia
This week of instruction in Cape Breton step dance will be led by Melody Cameron, a Mabou based fiddler and dancer with over 40 years of experience. It will also feature some of the island’s finest dancers as guest instructors. In addition, there will be a series of afternoon presentations with guest speakers covering dance form and technique, connections between Gaelic language, music and dance and historical links to Scotland.
Melody Cameron will be on hand to offer dance instruction every day but participants will also be treated to a different guest step dance instructor each day. Each afternoon, there will be a 20 minute cultural presentation followed by a step dance lesson review and instruction in Cape Breton square sets and Scotch Four dances.
Host Step Dance Instructor
Melody Cameron – Melody will be instructing from Monday to Friday.
Guest Step Dance Instructors:
Dawn Beaton – Monday, July 24th 9:30am – 11:50am
Margie Beaton -Tuesday, July 25th 9:30am – 11:50am
Jenny MacKenzie -Wednesday, July 26th, 9:30am – 11:50am
Melanie MacDonald – Thursday, July 27th 9:30am – 11:50am
John Pellerin – Friday, July28th, 9:30am – 11:50am
Guest Speakers:
Monday presentation by Melody Cameron– The Importance of Good Form, Style and Proper Technique
Tuesday presentation by Pat Ballantyne – A brief look at Scottish Dance Traditions from the 1800s onwards and how it might relate to Cape Breton step dance
Wednesday presentation by Kenneth MacKenzie – The Cape Breton piping tradition, how piping influenced the fiddle style and how to approach playing for dancers. After this presentation, Kenneth will stay on to play some tunes for the dancers!
Thursday presentation by Goiridh Domhnullach – Gaelic Language and Cape Breton’s Song and Dance Traditions
Friday presentation by John Pellerin – John will lead a discussion on forming synchronized dance routines, how to make steps, what makes a good step and favourite tunes to dance to. After his presentation, John will play tunes for the dancers!
For more information and registration details, visit http://capebretonstepdance.com/index.html
