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Letter to the editor: The end of an era at the Gaelic College

To the editor:

In an era when family values, morals, tradition and culture are questioned daily by popular media and outside exposure, it is shocking to see yet another important event for the youth of our community being cut. The annual Gaelic College Highland Dance Competition is one of the longest standing Highland Dance competitions in Canada. For this reason alone, it is a very important part of the history of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia and Canada. It is also important to our Cape Breton dancers as an event for these locals to perform for their families and their community without, once again, having to leave the Island. This competition attracts dancers from all over Canada, many of which have relatives in Cape Breton, and plan their summer vacations around the competition.

This past Fall, the Gaelic College elected a new administration which included a new Executive Director and Director of Education. Under this administration, there will be a change in focus at the College, moving more towards the Gaelic language and only ‘non’ competitive studies. There will no longer be study in the Great Highland Bagpipe (only Cape Breton style piping), no Pipeband Drumming, etc. Eventually, they hope to fade out one of the College’s longest standing areas of study, Highland Dance.

The Gaelic College began in 1938 as a Gaelic institution, at a time when Gaelic was a central part of Cape Breton communities–spoken at home and in school. Years later, Highland Dance and Bagpiping were added to the curriculum due to their ties with the language, culture and music, and they have continued through its history. Step Dance and Fiddle were not added to the program until many years later–the early ’80s. I have no issue with a Gaelic focus, I think it’s wonderful. My Dad’s family is from Inverness and spoke Gaelic in their home, and my daughter is studying Gaelic Song at the Gaelic College. My issue is with the disregard for other longstanding areas of study. If, back in the day, Gaelic College administration felt Highland Dance had strong enough ties to be one of the first evolving areas of study, why does the new administration feel it cannot be part of this tradition? Yes, the fiddle and step dance have been a large part of this culture, especially renewed in the past 20+ years, however, they were not original disciplines of study at the Gaelic College back when the Gaelic was center stage, yet Highland Dance was.

In early days, they also ran an annual Gaelic Mod that hosted competitions in Gaelic Song and Story, Highland Dance, and Pipebands. Through the years, the Mod has sadly become extinct, following along with so many events that have been lost to our Island. The Highland Dance Competition, however, has continued to run successfully since its inception. Due to the dedication and loyalty I have felt towards this event, the College’s traditions, and the local dancers, I have continued to organize this for the past 20 years with the support of the previous administrations and community volunteers. I run this purely on a volunteer basis, with no association as is the norm with other competitions.

So why would the Gaelic College pull this event? Their answer, aside from their new non-competitive view, is they don’t feel Highland Dance is connected in any way to the Gaelic Culture!!! I asked where they are getting their history and beliefs, and it was simply stated they just knew these things from being around the Gaelic lifestyle. This is very interesting. Certainly the dancing has changed over time, but it should still have a place in the culture, so it doesn’t get completely lost. Quoting a friend who has his Masters in Ethnochoreology (Traditional Dance Studies): “Both strands of the dance tradition (Highland & Step) should co-habit as they support and inform each other. Highland Flings have been danced to puirt a beul (mouth music) in Scotland for the past 50-60 years”…as have they been danced at the Gaelic College through mouth music in my younger years, and currently with my own students.

Healthy competition for youth has been a reason why many of these Celtic traditions have lasted through a time where media promotes a much more elaborate sense of living for youth. Competition allows young people to set goals, strive for improvement and share their skills with others. Isn’t this what our Gaelic/Cape Breton culture is about: families actually spending time together at community events full of tradition, culture and values? Not to mention the money that goes back in to our community’s economy when 100-200 dancers and their families spend the weekend dancing in Cape Breton (staying at our hotels, buying our gas, eating at our restaurants, shopping at our stores). I think maybe the administration may want to consider attending such an event before deciding its fate.

This is a disappointing loss to Highland Dance, which is a unique art form in many areas around the world. It is a great loss to our history and culture on the Island and within the Province, where Highland Dance competitions and Highland Games have been decreasing annually due to monetary reasons. Why can’t the Gaelic College pursue its ideals with the Gaelic Language, while still allowing the school portion of the institution to teach other just as relevant sectors of the culture? How is it that suddenly a few people get to decide what is a relevant part of tradition at the Gaelic College? If Highland Dance was relevant enough to be a starting new discipline way back in early Gaelic College days, why is it suddenly “not part of the culture”?

If our own Island, an Island that survives on our Celtic culture through tourism, and the Gaelic College, an institution promising to promote the local culture within our community, does not support Highland Dance… then who exactly will?

The Gaelic College is run overall by a Board of Governors. This Board makes all final decisions regarding the Gaelic College. If you would like to support the continuation of Highland Dance and the Dance Competition at the Gaelic College, please send any letters of support along to the Board Chairperson: Maureen Carroll maureen@mcarrollconsulting.ca.

Kelly MacAuthur
kelly@macarthurdance.com

Kelly MacArthur is the Director of the MacArthur School of Dance. She has been teaching Highland & Step Dance at the Gaelic College for the past 23 years. Kelly is the organizer of the GC Highland Dance Competition.

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Comments

  1. Sorry to hear this. My three children attended the Gaelic College during the summer of 2010. We drove all the way from PA, USA for the week. There was a great attraction for us for the kids to study not only highland dancing (and they enjoyed their classes with Mrs. MacArthur and Mrs. Bald-Jones) but many more Scottish Arts. In too many programs/workshops/camps Highland Dance is separated from these other cultural art forms. My oldest daughter, 16, has been studying Gaelic for nearly as long as she has been studying Highland Dance. Interest in one art form can lead to interest in another. In fact, her interest in Gaelic language and song is so strong that it is her first choice as a major in college! I want to be clear, the dancing led her into the study of the language. My youngest daughter, 11, before coming to the Gaelic College was only interested in Highland Dance. She was familiar with Gaelic song through her sister and decided to try weaving as well. Because of the week at the Gaelic College (which she attended primarily because of her interest in Highland Dance) she now is studying weaving through the Philadelphia Guild of Handweavers. This fall she competed in the US National Mòd with a song taught to her by Angus Mcleod during her week at the Gaelic College. I want to be clear her interest in the other cultural art forms came about because she attended the Gaelic College primarily for Highland Dance. Competition has kept dancing and other cultural art forms vibrant. Creative integration of the competitive and the non-competitive art forms will keep both alive. Culture can not compete against culture. We should never pit one cultural form against another, they were meant to exist together to support and enrich each other. Rather than eliminate the highland dancing competition, why not think about ways to integrate! A choreography competition or a reel (school vs. school) to a set of puirt. The dancers are accompanied by a singer rather than a recording. My oldest daughter integrates highland dance and puirt in a few ways. She has sung puirt for dancers in our school at performances, she has also helped create and perform duet and solo choreographies to puirt by Julie Fowlis and Joy Dunlop and she is in the process of seeking out and learning puirt to the traditional Highland Dance tunes for the Fling, Sword and Seann Triubhas. (And do I need to point out that Seann Triubhas is Gaelic?) She is studying to be a Highland Dance teacher and wants to use Gaelic song in her teaching. While there in 2010 our 3 dancers did compete at the Gaelic College Competition. It was a delightful day at the end of a wonderful week at the Gaelic College.

  2. Come ON! Finally the B.o.G. has their priorities straightened out! People going to the Gaelic College should be learning about Gaelic Culture in Cape Breton Island – not Gaelic Culture in Scotland. It's to this garbage of saying our culture in Cape Breton isn't good enough to teach at the Gaelic College we owe the loss of Cape Breton's Gaidhlig cultural identity. I applaud the changes – finally they are looking out for the beautiful culture there is in Cape Breton while they have the chance!

    • You sound like a very angry man Daibhidh so now you are studying gaelic history, well,well. fyi. The teachers were brought over from Scotland at the time when there was not a lot of pipers in Cape , at the teaching level, over the years the teachers are now mostly Canadian, in fact the rule according to the employment act is ,that these jobs must be offered to Canadians who can do them at the skill level required, then and only then can they be offered to teachers from away The highland dance teachers,and the step dancing teachers were mainly form Cape Breton , Kelly, Jean MacNeil,etc.and they have done a remarkable job , I am very proud to be a Scot.from Scotland,but who lived in Cape Breton with my Cape Bretoner husband for 25 years, we were volunteers at the college for many years which included ,scrubbing and painting the dorms wnen a Mr. Mac Auly was director and the college had No money, the parents of the Highland dancers were there cleaning and repairing the dormitories I well remember the Bradleys being there ,both of thier daughters were excellent dancers and pipers be carefull what you wish for…….

      • I have not seen one comment on this blog to state that anyone has an issue with them teaching the studies of CB as long as they include the other studies? No one has said they weren't good enough. You must feel this way if you are to make such a statement. The idea is to have those studies AND include other traditional studies that have been there and are believed in. Having more ~ rather than less ~ is the co existence we are all battling.

      • Well said Kelly! The "picking a fight" serves only as a rationale for the changes envisioned by the new "CEO". There is no need at all for a battle — but get a politician involved and everything goes awry.

        Daibhidh MF: is that you Rodney?

      • It's not Chris. Daibhidh (curious if you know what that translates to) identified himself in earlier threads.

      • How interesting that unbiased, Daibhidh (David) MF, and others so very much want to know who I am, and what my gaelic "pedigree" is. None of you know me, nor I you, and you'd be the last people I'd share information with about my gaelic heritage.

      • Hey Chris, no one asked for your "pedigree"… This person was correcting you for saying that I was Rodney MacDonald.

      • Unfortunately Jeanie, the loyalty and family atmosphere that has been represented through generations at the GC has not received any respect from the new administration. Regular long time staff, as well as the annual students population, were not made aware of the changes. Many (most) are finding out with this article…which is the whole reason I wrote it. The GC belongs to the community, and they have every right to know and understand these changes and the new direction. There was a short note in the Post ~ but it was not very clear ~ and not everyone reads the Post. I called and directly spoke to the Director of Education, which is how I received clarification.

      • Kelly keep on Fighting for what you and hundreds of students ,past students parents and grandparents believe is an absolute right . Who is really sure of when highland dancing did start,this I have read in the history books ,that the men danced and the pipers piped before and after every battle, going back in history when wearing the kilts were banned after Culloden and the Scots were forced to were the hated trews of the British, a highland dance was devised ,I don't know the gaelic spelling and I won't insult the language by spelling it wrong ,but it translated into ''shedding the trews''and that was 250 years ago, granted the dance has changed but what hasn't in 250 years ,I say keep the pipes and dancing . keep the the kilt makers, and dancing teachers,at the college if ever there was a need for The fiery cross to burn this is it..This step the new commitee is taking is a big step backward.lets move forward together for the good of the culture…

      • Hey Jeanie, I don't know what saying I sound to you like an angry man does to help your case. Please leave ad hominems out of your posts, thank you.

      • hahaha! You know what, I'd like to – sometimes it's better to leave people in their own ways of thinking than taking them up in argument. Taigh na galla dhaibh.

    • I disagree with this comment. Students should have their own choice as to what they want to take. As a student there, I personally just didn't enjoy learning new languages. Not that I have anything against learning it, I always tried it out and I loved the teachers but I loved having the choice of all the other courses. There is not nearly enough students who go to GC that they can just cut extremely popular courses. I have been attending for the past 7 years and I know the majority of returning students, none of which want to return after this change. The college is not going to make enough money because they will be coping with an extreme loss of students. Scottish culture IS Gaelic culture. They derived from the same place. GC is the most cultural camp I've heard of. They definitely do not need to worry about "losing culture". You have a whole school towards it! Obviously it's not lost!

      • See what is irking me is the very fact that so many people hold the misconception "Scottish culture IS Gaelic culture" – – – they are not synonymous!!

      • This was a comment long before your suggestion, so before you post this comment on all previous comments, take note. And grow up.

    • I would like to correct myself – when I say Cape Breton Island, I mean to say the Gaidhealtachd in Atlantic Canada. I apologize to anyone who was offended by this mistake, it was not intended to be so exclusive. I am not referring to just Cape Breton.

  3. Can't say that I agree. While highland dance has enjoyed the 'limelight' at the Gaelic College for years, Gaelic language has hardly had anything other than a token presence. If it comes down to budget decisions on where to invest money, I would have made the same decision: pull funding from highland dance and invest it in the language. The competitive nature of the dancing circuit is not supporting any gaelic values, and indeed I feel like this form of dance has lost touch with whatever authenticity it might once have had. Furthermore the high cost to families whose children want to participate is certainly prohibitive to the vast majority of working class Cape Bretoners.

    • I disagree. As a highland dancer I enjoyed many summer programs at the college and had originally gone there with the intentions of majoring in highland dance. It ended up providing the opportunity to learn other aspects of the culture. I learned basic fiddling, step dance, gaelic language as well as some drumming. It was a fantastic experience, and those are some of my most cherished memories. Culture isn't just comprised of ONE aspect, it is a collection of many forms, dance, music, language, the list is endless really and they all tie in together and all are equally important. If anything the college helped take a step back from the competitive side of things and allowed all of us as students to immerse ourselves in the culture we love. The college is supposed to be a conservation of gaelic culture not way for an executive to pick and choose what is most important.

    • ..This is not quite true, Gaelic language classes were always available, but always had a low enrollment , ..When my husaband died in 1995 I recieved many donation's from family and friends,a few thousand dollars,we agreed that we would set up a bursary for a student not only from Cape Breton but from Victoria County, in the event that no one from Victoria county applied then it would be open to the rest of Nova Scotia, since 1996 some one has been able to attend , .I served on the foundation board for 15 years and enjoyed every moment…We organised Marag suppers Milling frolics ,gaelic song with Hector and Angus leading ,highland dancing , fiddle and piping , ..I would respecfully suggest that the college be left intact with all the disciplines as the are , open a school dedicated only to the language , in Sydney or perhaps in Inverness county, in closing I have to admit that when I saw in the media the new director and board my heart sank like a stone, the writing was on the wall as they say,I feel as though the college has been attacked from within ,a Trogan Horse so to speak,, I wish Kelly all the best in her struggle with this sad situation .

      • Jeanie, these are very important words from you. I enjoyed studying piping and gaelic language at the college and appreciate the value of each. Does the administration anticipate additional provincial (or other) funding for the college if gaelic language becomes it's priority?

      • I spelled Trojan wrong sorry, if this tragedy happens i would expect the director and the board members to conduct ALL meetings in the Gaelic language and good gaelic at that, I do not speak it ,however I love to hear it spoken it is a beautiful softly spoken language,I did sing in the gaelic choir which Catriona conducted at the college I have often seen some of the elders in the St, Anns area shaking thier head in dismay at some of the '' alleged gaelic '' being spoken, It is not an easy language to learn, I speak from experience, so it will always be a second language ,I do not know if the board are gaelic speakers although some of them have spent most of thier lives in Cape Breton,and some of them were very happy to take a teaching summer job at the college. I am just sad that this is happening or even may happen,Thank you douglas dubh for your comment,as for new funding I do not know,The New director was an MLA in the provincial govt. few years ago so he may have some ideas about that

      • Thanks, Jeanie. Hope most would agree that expanding gaelic at the expense of highland pipes and dance is not a good idea. Seems a little short sighted, too, as the more people attending the college the greater the possibility for increased bursaries. Also more people attending the college having a good experience will bring even more people in the future. So, ok, lets have more gaelic. Keep the highland pipes and dance. Rather than "fading out" a program keep it all going and keep it fun. I remember Sue taking taking fiddle, step, and bodhran while I was taking gaelic and pipes. (Step was too tough for me!)

  5. Regarding "The End of an Era at the Gaelic College" by Kelly MacArthur: The news that the study of Highland Dance, the Great Highland Bagpipe, and pipe band drumming are being phased out of the curriculum of studies offered by the Gaelic College is both shocking and saddening. I presume that the new administration has its reasons for eliminating the longest-standing forms of music and dance offered by the Gaelic College – aside perhaps from Gaelic song – from its curriculum. As Ms. MacArthur has pointed out, the new administration will not only be cutting these programs of study, it will also be cutting from the island an influx of tourists (consumers), a huge part of the heritage of Cape Breton Island, and also a link between the Island and the vast community of participants in highland games worldwide. I can only hope that the new administration sees the light and re-thinks its decision before so much is lost, not only to the students of the Gaelic College and the participants in its competitions, but to Cape Breton Island as an entity.

    • Official competition has no part in the cultural heritage of Cape Breton Island. The tourists should be getting authentic local culture. Cape Breton HAS a culture of its own, and the Gaelic College has for too long put Cape Breton culture on the back-burner and tried to imitate Scotland – as if Scotland had "better" culture. Tell me, what Gaelic-speaking community in Cape Breton Island has EVER had a long-standing tradition of Highland dance, or Great Highland bagpiping? Not one! Never. This movement by the Board of Governors at the GC is a well-needed kick-in-the-arse for the progenitors of bastardized culture that have already done so much damage in Cape Breton.

      • Please inform me of the "damage" highland dance has done to Cape Breton Island. It has gotten children active and heathly and involved them in something where important values can be instilled within them such as dicipline, how to be gracious, how to work as a team and so much more. Highland dancers only compete if they want to. Many do it purely for recreation to stay healthy by doing something they love. It's a way to challege yourself. To reach goals, to dream of all you can acheive if you practice every single day. If someone wants to persue their passion in such a wonderful setting like the Gaelic College why would you take that away from them? Because you deem it "culturally unimportant"? I understand that you have a passion for your Gaelic culture and have very particular views on what is and isn't "pure" Cape Breton Gaelic culture and I respect that completely, but why is it you think that these art forms can not co-exist, as Kelly had suggested?

      • Ballet could do all of the same things, but do you think they should be holding ballet classes at the Gaelic College? If I wanted ballet classes to be put on by the Gaelic college, would you see issue other than that of cultural relevance? No. And if cultural relevance was not an aspect in which programs are held, I'd be very much in support of Highland Dancing being held there. Who would I be to say they ought not do it? But, cultural relevance is an important matter in this case and ipso facto I am in support of the college's apparent re-focusing of values. I think these artforms can co-exist, but the setting of the Gaelic College doesn't seem to me as the place for it by the very nature of its mission.

      • Have you ever been to a highland games and listened to the speeches before the massed bands? Often these speeches are in Gaelic. People who believe in their culture as fiercely as you do, speaking to us about how important WE, the pipe bands and the dancers are, in preserving Gaelic culture. It seems to me these people think we're relevant. I have nothing against a more "culturally focused" plan, in fact I embrace it. I do not look down on what other people hold dear to their hearts. Something highland dance has reinforced in me, by the way! I do not claim other traditions to be easily disposable, simply because I do not understand them or have not experienced them. The Gaelic College attracted me because of my love for all things Celtic, especially highland dance, but attending opened my eyes to so much more. The love and passion everyone at the college has for what they do is inspiring.

      • My mother can speak fluent Gaelic and has taught me most of what she knows. I'm all for preserving the language and indeed think it's crucially important. However, I believe these art forms can co-exist at the college. I have seen it, I have experienced it, and I do not think it is an “error“. The instructors all have enormous amounts of respect for each other and pride in what they do. Highland dancers, pipers and drummers make up a good chunk of the attendance at the GC. Take that away and you won’t have many students available to even take the Gaelic classes.

      • You seem to have some very strong opinions and have made some pretty sharp comments on this site yet you are the only contributor who does not post his name. It's really easy to rave from behind the door. Perhaps if you had the fortitude to show your face you'd be a little more polite.

    • What is up with "Daibhidh MF", who is being pretty insulting and demanding that theirs is the only "right" view of the changes at the GC.

      Part of the problem is these changes are too much, too quickly. The GC has a long and healthy tradition of celtic arts, traditionally governed by a broad-based board (not a former politician "CEO"). Posters like "Daibhidh MF" are insulting the history of the GC and the many years of hard work of the people who have both run the Gc and attended it for multiple years and multiple celtic arts.

      Why is it that whenever a politician gets involved in something that is really a community-based enterprise, things go so awry? I think the people of Cape Breton (of whom I am one, born and bred) and supporters of the great traditions of the GC need to rise up on this issue and tell the "new CEO" and his followers that this is not going to happen without a big fight.

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