Scottish Step Dance and Fiddling

Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland and The University of Edinburgh work together to apply collective experience of teaching and learning dance and knowledge of the creative value of Scotland’s cultural traditions to charter new pathways that connect artists, educators and academics.

Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland

A series of workshops for beginner step dancers, and fiddlers wishing to learn to play for dancers.

Welcome fiddlers and step dancers!
You sign up as either Fiddler or Step Dancer. Mairi works with both side by side. 
This is an online class working with the zoom application. 

Rhythm is an elemental in music. It sustains us, gives us grounding and energy and is a great people connector. 
Reconnecting with rhythm and finding your swing is no small thing. The satisfaction of returning to your innate sense of the beat and allowing your body or violin to settle into that is both exhilarating and profound. 
 
It’s also easy to lose your sense of the beat and many of us have. At this time of deep disorder and reorientation it’s time to literally 'find our feet' allow gravity to hold us and learn to sway and swing in our own music and dance again. 
Mairi invites you to join her on this journey of the heart, rhythm and soul.
More information from Mairi:
WHAT IS STEP DANCING?
Step dancing is foot percussion. It’s a tradition that I learnt in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. It was there that 40.000 Highlanders and Scots emigrated between 1730 and 1850 and took with them their dancing and music where it’s stayed alive in that community along with banging piano accompaniment! 

WHAT TUNES DO YOU PLAY?
Beautiful old tunes from the Highlands are my favourite alongside Cape Breton contemporary tunes. I'll be introducing you to both.

FIDDLERS
You need to be able to play a Strathspey, Reel and Jig at dancing tempo. We’ll also be playing the tunes more slowly. 
I will send out the tunes in notation and mp3 before the session so you have time to get familiar with the repertoire. 

TEMPOS REQUIRED
Strathspey - 4/4 120 max tempo
Reel - 4/4 108 bpm max tempo
Jig - 6/8 120 bpm max tempo

My favourite place to hear amazing playing in the style and energy is right here: Ryan Joseph Macdonald has a weekly show full of amazing sets of tunes. Drop in for a listen and sign up to give yourself a blast. 
https://soundcloud.com/ryan-joseph-macdonald-924278576

Step dancers:
This is a beginners class or for those with a little experience of stepping who want to dance the steps with live music, move your body and find your groove!

Mairi and Joanne (TDFS) will shape the workshop using Zoom features to offer group learning, feedback, practicing alone and witnessing. 

MAIRI CAMPBELL - BIOG
Mairi’s facilitation offers participants playful and profound encounters with their innate creativity and musical desires. Through the tools of InterPlay, choir leading, voice work, fiddle teaching and movement, Mairi is a sought after teacher. She has taught across Scotland including Findhorn (EarthSings), Wellington, New Zealand (2019) and she was director and song arranger for Edinburgh’s folk choir ‘Sangstream’ from 2000 to 2012. She has a creative arts centre on the island of Lismore where she runs camps when she can.
Mairi learnt step dancing in Cape Breton in the 1990’s from Betty Matheson, Tracey Dares, Minnie McMaster and Jean McNeil. She has taught step dance classes in Edinburgh for the Scots Music Group. 
Mairi is a outstanding facilitator who brings her own unique approach to music teaching.
 Her deep respect for Scottish traditional music sits alongside a gentle encouragement to find new pathways and sounds.

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Scottish Step Dance and Fiddling

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Scottish Step Dance and Fiddling

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