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.
Joseph Glynn says
… it would seem that the election of a new administration … including a new Executive Director & Director of Education … this last fall & the following which change in focus at the College … may be ill thought out in its effect on the College, the Community, Island & certainly last but not least …. families … (future students ….) . If activities competitive or otherwise that foster interest in further academic pursuit … cease to exist …. enrollment drops, … eventually no College ( seems … should have kept the old administration … for the new one will be out of work anyway ) & Community , Island & Families would be deprived of a resource …. and part of its past & future heritage…
Joseph Glynn
Spirit Images LLC
Lianne Bradshaw says
It would be helpful to have the current administration provide their official comments as to how they came to make these recommendations. Having read the comments so far, Daibhidh MF seems to suggest that Highland Dance and Pipe Bands are just not "highland" enough.
I would also like some insight from the administration on what makes piping, "Cape Breton Piping". This confuses me because the 2012 Summer Brochure lists two wonderful piping instructors who have had a long history of playing and successfully competing in pipe bands in Nova Scotia, both in Cape Breton and in other areas of Nova Scotia. I can't help but wonder if not for pipe bands, (and the history of world class pipe band instruction at the Gaelic College), would these two pipers have achieved the level of skill and ability that they currently have?
In any event, I encourage the administration to provide some facts, figures, and analysis to help all of us understand the context of this new change in direction. These changes will have an impact on future students who come through the College.
There are many heartbroken former students out there who came to be exposed to Gaelic at the College by attending through the pipe band or dancing disciplines. It just seems to be such a shame to start cutting instead of adding on.
I urge the administration to speak up so the public knows the reasons behind this new format which appears to be a direction away from the inclusive nature of the programming in the past.
Glenn Graham says
I agree that the label "Cape Breton" can be an exclusive term. The Gaeltacht here stretched right from Cape Breton to North-Eastern NS, and into PEI. I feel that it would be less exclusive, for the pipers, to call the discipline with a new focus "Piping for step-dancers" or "Piping in the Local Community Context". I can't speak for the administration but from what I can gather, this is what the new title entails. After all, that was the style played across the Gaeltacht here with the immigrants, and the style embraced by the locals at the ceilidhs that I attend (again anecdotal evidence). I can state with absolute certainty that not every bagpiper with superb technical skills in the competition circuit plays with the right feel and tempo for step-dancing. Hence, there will only be certain pipers chosen to teach in that discipline.
Marian MacDonald says
I must say I feel the Board of Governors are making one big mistake. I personally feel that if the Dancing, Piping and Drumming class are removed from the classes offered at the College they are signing the death warrent for the college. I feel safe in saying that the number of student, from all over the world that register to attend the College every summer will be greatly reduced by the elimination of these classes. Yes, when these students attend…they attend the gaelic classes, and thank goodness they do, however I think you are going to see a dramaitic decline in registration and thus a dramatic reduction in revenue, revenue that is needed to operate the facility. I have no problem at all with the facility putting their priority on the Gaelic language, I agree, it should be the main focus however, do not make a mistake that is going to cause us to loose one of the most valuable resources that this Island has.
Marian MacDonald says
My suggestion is keep these classes…..bring back the Gaelic MOD as it was years ago and everyone will benifit….. ask for some imput from the public……contact some of your former students and ask for their opinions……what drew them to the College???? Please rethink this decision.
2CentsWorth says
Reading this thread has been very interesting, and disgruntling, to say the least. I think what remains paramount from the barrage of comments on this one article that Ms. MacArthur wrote so well, is that the Board of Governors and CEO have to step back and take this outcry (which is mostly in support of what Ms. MacArthur has been told by the Director of Education) into serious consideration from a business point of view. Will the "eventual phasing out of highland dance" lead to declining enrollment at the College as a whole? The majority of comments here seem to allude to that. The College/Board will eventually have to face the music (no pun or style of music intended) when enrollment plummets, financial woes are greater, and this conversation will take a whole new spin.
Let the disciplines exist together, in harmony, to learn from one another, to grow and evolve together. To the College & Board, think of the children, the students and the opportunity that avails you to bring many facets of culture, music, dance and values to their lives during their time at the College. They bring with them money, and a yearning to learn. They do not need to bare the brunt of these politics.
Just my two cents worth.
Trish MacDonald says
People also need to send letters and emails to the Board of Directors! Just venting on here will not do any good.The people in charge of these decisions need to get letters, or they will simply say they didn't know!
Nate Silva says
Personally I prefer Cape Breton style piping, but that doesn't make me ok with this new direction. They can try and defend it all they want, but they're just making excuses, and they know it. Fix it, don't fire it.
As for highland dance (if it goes the same way), I don't have to be a dancer to know what a tragedy it would be for them to cut it out.
These people changed the lives of myself and scores of others through these programs. Just the thought that future generations may no longer have the chance to benefit from them is so saddening it makes me sick.
I applaud your standing up for what is right Kelly. I would certainly expect no less from you.