A Great Weekend of Scottish Music and Scottish Country Dancing
VANCOUVER - In early May, Vancouver is the place to be for enthusiasts of Scottish Country Dancing and its music.
There are three great events happening over the May 9-11 weekend when the Vancouver Branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society hosts the Pearl Holmberg Workshop for teachers and musicians; the Youth Weekend West dance workshop for the under thirtyish crowd; and the Thistle Ball, an annual gala dance hosted in turn by the Vancouver, Victoria and Seattle Branches of the RSCDS.
This regular fixture on the Scottish Country Dance calendar is designed to feature major bands from Scotland for an experience west coasters wouldn't otherwise get without going to Scotland.
"The Workshop also presents an opportunity unique in Canada," reports Carole Berger, registrar of the Pearl Holmberg Workshop. "Musicians and teachers come here to hone their skills and collaborate to achieve the best possible experience."
Musicians can anticipate learning the finer points of playing for Scottish Country Dancing, ceilidhs and classes, as well as having the fun of jamming and hearing a great Scottish band.
On the faculty will be Maureen Rutherford, pianist and fiddler, music director for the RSCDS, with over 25 years experience playing in Scottish dance bands; Neil Copland, accordionist, teacher, and dance band leader for the last 20 years; and Lesley Martin, RSCDS examiner, teacher, and instructor at St. Andrew's Summer School.
Maureen and Neil, along with James Grey (Norway) on piano, and the rest of the Neil Copland Scottish Dance Band, will provide the music for the Saturday night Thistle Ball, which promises to be a rare treat.
The dance floor that night will also be enlivened by the spirited group taking part in the Youth Weekend West who will get a chance to practise the steps they've been learning that weekend.
For tickets to the Pearl Holmberg Workshop, call Fran Caruth (604) 929-6884 or Carole Berger at (604) 737-7948; Youth Weekend West, call Fiona Haight at (778) 228-7553; the Thistle Ball, call Moyra Heyerdahi at (604) 924-1694. For more information, visit: rscdsvancouver.org.
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