A New Direction For Annual Céilí Camp
 THE IRISH HERITAGE SOCIETY supports Leslie Wilson and Céilí Camp. Shown above are Tony McCamley, president of the IHS (centre) with (L-R) Tom Butler, Jean Butler, Fred Nguyen, and George McDonnell, vice-president of the IHS. |
HARRISON HOT SPRINGS - Céilí Camp 2009 brought exciting new experiences this year along with the old standards for which this festival is known.
Céilí Camp was originally created in 2002 as an opportunity to strengthen the Irish music community in western Canada.
"With the abundance of celtic musical talent in the area," recalls Céilí Camp director Leslie Wilson, "it was a shock for me when searching for Irish fiddle teachers for my daughters to discover the rarity of local music teachers who were able to teach traditional Irish music."
As Brian Conway, former All-Ireland champion fiddler and Céilí Camp fiddle instructor, stated in a previous interview with The Celtic Connection, "there is a misconception of what constitutes Irish music." Céilí Camp was created in an attempt to fill that void.
After seven years of Céilí Camp, 2009 brought two important Irish musical firsts to western Canada.
Ceilidh Briscoe, of Vancouver Island, first introduced to traditional Irish music at Céilí Camp, became the first western Canadian to participate and win the Fleadh in New York, thereby qualifying for the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Ireland.
The second development for our local Irish music community is that for the first time, Céilí Camp's fiddle instructor was "home grown."
 CÉILÍ CAMP Director Leslie Wilson, with staff (L-R) Joel Hanna, Martin Nolan, Jean Butler, Meredith Coloma, Craig McGregor, and John O'Flynn. |
Meredith Coloma was originally introduced to traditional Irish music through the camp and instructors such as Brian Conway, Gerry O'Connor, Liz Carroll, and Rose Flanagan.
"Céilí Camp has put western Canada on the map and provided a future for further local Irish musical development for our young people. I'm very satisfied with its success....and it's just beginning," says Wilson.
While Irish dancing in western Canada has an internationally respected standard on the competitive stage, there has been no local avenue for dancing in a professional capacity.
"Competition is extremely valuable and healthy as a means to an end," says Wilson, "however, without perspective and integrity, there is the opportunity to breed harmful attitudes.
"Céilí Camp was an opportunity to support the international community of Irish dancing in exposing our competitors to a constructive environment with successful role models as instructors while encouraging a supportive community."
However, with changes to the Irish Dancing Commission's workshop rules, Céilí Camp was in jeopardy this year.
New "Association" regulations prohibit dancers from one school taking classes with dancers from another school.
 DANCERS at this year's Céilí Camp at Harrison Hot Springs (L-R) Fred Nguyen, Megan Barling, Choreographer Joel Hanna, Lisa Pasini, Savannah Greer. |
With the community building purpose of the camp, this was a serious blow until members of the western Canadian Irish Dancing Teachers Association suggested to the director that Céilí Camp produce a show instead of holding classes.
Shows are exempt from the "Association Rule." What began as a way to ensure that the Camp merely survive the rule changes, ended up as yet another fabulous "first" for Céilí Camp.
"We created 'Céilí: An Seó' and hired two of Irish dancing's best choreographers, Jean Butler and Joel Hanna," says Wilson.
"Both Jean and Joel excelled competitively but used their talent and skill to become instrumental in bringing Irish dancing to the professional rather than competitive dance arena.
"They challenged the art form in new ways and added to the evolutionary aspect of culture. It was an eye-opening experience for the dancers in western Canada and an eye-pleasing treat for the audience!
"It's a new direction for Céilí Camp that we will certainly be building on."
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