CeltFest 2007 Passes on Traditions
on Canada's 'Other Celtic Coast'
By CATHOLINE BUTLER
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Beòlach, one of Cape Breton's most outstanding Celtic bands, will perform this year at the annual Sunset & Stars Gala Concert at Nanaimo's Port Theatre on July 12. This is the performance highlight of CeltFest 2007. |
NANAIMO - The seventh annual CeltFest 2007 will present its international summer school of Celtic music, dance and culture from July 7 to 13 on Vancouver Island.
The world loves Celtic arts and nowhere is this more evident than at CeltFest which has advanced British Columbia as Canada's "other Celtic Coast."
This year a fifteenth country will be represented at CeltFest. "Just as last year saw a group of Irish dancers from Mexico City, this year we will present pipers from Saudi Arabia," says festival director Carolyn Phillips-Cusson.
"It's great to see them coming to train with other pipers and musicians and dancers from North America, Scotland and Ireland."
The five-day summer school and concert series begins with a public event - a kickoff Ceilidh at Nanaimo's newest restaurant, Basque, on July 7.
On July 9 classes for all levels and ages commence at Tigh-Na-Mara and River Bend Resorts in Parksville. Programs in Highland and uilleann (Irish) bagpipes, Highland and bodhran drumming, fiddle, Highland and Irish dance, whistle, song, cello, guitar, piano, step and ceilidh dance plus Celtic art and the Gaelic language make this a unique learning experience - one which passes on traditions from generation to generation.
This year, July 12 will be "Gaelic Day," when anyone can come for the day and learn about the Gaelic language and song.
Student performance ceilidhs are a nightly feature at the Parksville Community and Convention Centre July 9 to 11 and are free of charge to the public to enjoy. One of the week's highlights is Tuesday evening's "Wacky Jig and Hornpipe" competition in a "family pub" atmosphere.
The performance highlight of CeltFest 2007 is the annual Sunset & Stars Gala Concert at Nanaimo's Port Theatre on July 12. It will present over 30 star performers and faculty members.
Featured this year are several stellar performers who form the faculty at the summer school. Such luminaries as Michael Flatley's lead understudy in Riverdance, Irish dancer Glenn Simpson, will join one of Cape Breton's most outstanding Celtic bands, Beòlach.
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THE COTTARS in the background as Adam and Genevieve of Nanaimo's own Glengarry Dancers perform. |
A few of the other featured stars will be the world champion Highland dancer David Wilton of Scotland returning by popular demand, Canada's bard Eileen McGann, uilleann piper Aidan O'Brien of the UK, BC's Celtic harper-singer Wendy Humphreys Tebbutt supported by the high energy CeltFest pipers, drummers and dancers.
The event sold out last year and the theatre swelled with ovation after ovation. Tickets are on sale now and going quickly at the Port Theatre's Box Office at (250) 754-8550.
Eileen McGann, an internationally renowned songwriter has been an instructor at CeltFest since its inception. She says that unlike the many festivals in the world where she performs, CeltFest is unique.
"The inter-generational passing on of this culture is rare, and not seen in such depth and breadth anywhere on this side of Canada," says McGann. "This is not just a concert, or a camp based around one or two instruments, CeltFest is a summer school for all generations learning side by side."
She adds that this inspires much of the Celtic imagination and sense of humour that in turn contribute to what she calls the "living tradition" of Celtic musical arts.
René Cusson, principal of CeltFest summer school, agrees. "When considering instructors for our school, we look for major performers who have proven teaching ability, and a close connection with the traditions of music and dance.
"These days Celtic is in, and many musicians and dancers attempt to emulate or Celtify their music and dance because they like the sound or look and because it has so much appeal.
"However, there is more to preserving and evolving the art forms than just sounding or looking Celtic. Outside of Atlantic Canada, we believe CeltFest presents the greatest opportunity to experience, explore and expand on these traditions."
CeltFest 2007 is presented by The Pacific Institute of Piping & Celtic Performing Arts. For more details on go www.celtfest.ca, or call (250) 758-0208.
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