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.
Mary Higgins says
PART 1 – Regarding "The end of an Era at the Gaelic College by Kelly MacArthur:
I am simply stunned and echo the thoughts stated above by Ann E. Gray. I would first simply like to ask how this decision was reached, and by whom? I can only assume given the remarks stated that there cannot be a true understanding of what the "Gaelic College" is for many of us past students and the profound foundation it provided to study, compete, and come to a TRUE understanding of our Celtic heritage in its entirety.
Highland Dance, Piping, Drumming and Gaelic were the original arts taught ….from instructors worldwide who have attained the highest Honors in their respective areas of expertise. I will mention just some of the individuals that I know, who based on results have contributed to the present day Celtic heritage we as past students hold so dear to our hearts.
I could continue but hope that my message is clear. Without the Gaelic College, there would be very little if any at all, individuals who have achieved world- wide success in their areas of expertise.
Kelly says
Please everyone, the simple stand I am taking is with regards to the Highland Dance history with the Gaelic College traditions. I am not here to fight the age old battle of the Gaelic speaking community, who are set in their beliefs ~ that is not my battle. I am sticking to the battle that the Highland Dance (as well as pipes and drums) were set into play in 1939, and have remained a huge part of the GC tradition since…whether the historians, Gaelic community or others like it ~ it happened. THIS has become the history of the Gaelic College, and no one can say that is not what was intended.
The one thing that could have saved this all was if AWR had called the it 'The College of Celtic Arts and Crafts'. If he had left out the word 'Gaelic'…we wouldn't be having this argument at all. Regardless, the program was instated and remained and is history. The Highland Dance taught there is now our history. It deserves to be respected, and so does the Gaelic community….so why can we all not live in harmony and discover and evolve all the wonderful things we have been blessed with in our community?
Mary Higgins says
Kelly, I have not had the pleasure of meeting you. However, your hard work and perseverance precede you. I am very proud to be able to say that because of people such as you, a tradition and way of life has remained vibrant. Cape Breton has benefitted from this true dedication in so many ways as you have so eloquently outlined. Because of the Gaelic College and individuals like yourself. I was able to achieve so much, up to and including my Fifth gold bar, and I believe maybe my Associates Teachers Certification in Highland dancing. Incidentally, I also learned to step dance from one of our greats, Jean MacNeil, so I fully understand the subtlety between having a Piper play for the style of the music performed for both types of Dance. I strongly disagree with these petty, arrogant remarks, voiced by certain individuals who I can only guess have limited knowledge of what has formed the foundation, which the Gaelic College stood for at its inception, a deliberate choice to protect and preserve and grow our Celtic traditions in Cape Breton. ,
Chris MacNeil says
Exactly — very well said. There is a lot of arrogance and insulting going on by those who insist the changes to the GC are the right way to go. Instead of bringing in more, they want to disown our great GC history and traditions. That is just wrong, and wrong-headed.
Thanks for your comments in this and other posts. They are a much-needed response to the inaccurate attempts to portray the GC as in need of a change in direction. If anything, the board should turf this new "CEO" and get back to doing what it does and has been doing successfully for many generations.
Mary Higgins says
After all, how is one able to compete and perform without the Great Highland Bagpipe, and Pipe Band Drumming. Highland Dancing goes hand in hand with the rhythm of the drums, and the precious music played by the Great Highland Bagpipe. My grandparents are immigrants to Cape Breton, and the "mainland". We should hold steadfast and true to all of the wonderful gifts they brought on their journey to a new homeland. I can say in all certainty that my Grandfather, who was a violinist, spoke fluent Gaelic, and embraced each and every art they brought from the "old country", the arts they so graciously preserved for us were never compared. The Scottish people are fiercely proud of what we, in Cape Breton have worked so diligently to preserve and pass on to the next generation, inclusive of step dancing. I applaud you in your efforts to educate people in an attempt to salvage this true Cape Breton way of life as it was at its inception, The Gaelic College of Celtic Folk Arts. How may I assist you in this cause?
ashley macisaac says
kelly if you are so inclined i.interesred in being part of a.school that includes highland skills..ie dancing piping tree throwing and stone throwing as well as.fiddle playing stepdancing and gaelic singing and cooking if you want to start a.new one with online education for both group and individuals and a seven week summer course or winrer course somewhere warm (we could travel)and lets.say seven weeks online and offer a.credited value of.colleg equivilence,fell free.to message.me..at. james@courageartists.com
i think wecould have hundreds of teachers eventually hooked.up with thousands of students paid online and eventually as i say ata.destination which would end with a fsbulous giant mod.call it onlineceltic college
Kelly says
We should definitely speak. Anything new an open is always of interest to me ~ as I love spreading and continuing culture…not analysing it and making judgements on what people should be allowed to learn and enjoy.
Once I get through the thousands of calls and emails of feedback from this article…I'll be in touch!
ashley macisaac says
well im ways open to suggestions look forward to hearing from you good luck with your facing adventure:)
Laurie S. says
I believe that the Faculty posted on the Gaelic College webpage is the 2011 list, not for the 2012 summer.
Re faculty: I've heard that teachers with Gaelic will be given preference over non-Gaelic speakers for ALL disciplines. That could mean major changes for whatever courses that are taught.
I attended the College as an adult student for many years. Although Gaelic was my "major" I dabbled in all the other courses available to adults so I can now appreciate those who put in the effort/time to do those things well! :)
Over those years, I watched the adult student numbers twindle (for a variety of reasons). I've always thought that the "kids' sessions" (July) must be what was keeping the school afloat (separate from the Gift Shop & catering ends of the business). My first thought when reading about the changes in curriculum was "there goes the kids' sessions." Hopefully, I'm wrong but how many parents will spend the money to send their children to a place where the style of piping/dancing is different from what they do the rest of the year?
While I like the idea of enhancing the Gaelic content, can't that be done by bringing the other areas into the Gaelic fold!
now a past student says
I don't get the fact that non-Gaelic speaking teachers wil be replaced by gaelic speaking instructors. How will that improve the Cape Breton fiddling courses. As a GC student I've always been taught CB tunes along with the local history of these tunes. Good-bye past instructors. Guess I'll go elsewhere.
I'm gone says
I've experienced one gaelic speaking instructor not able to teach worth a dang……while other excellent instructors have been let go because they don't speak Gaelic. Good-bye College !
MacandTosh says
So they appoint Rodney MacDonald as CEO, although he can't speak Gaelic, the college gets $85,000.00 for Gaelic language training and cut out everything else. Just like the type of move the former Premier Rodney MacDonald made when he was Premier. Does the Board not realize how many thousands of dollars parents around the world have put into that place for their kids to receive world class highland dance, piping and drumming lessons? Typicial Tory move. Pathetic. This shouldn't be allowed to happen. Give Rodney the boot like when he got the boot from politics. There must be a flock of sheepies on that board. I for one will never put another dollar into the college if this change is allowed to pass.
Glenn Graham says
Rodney is a Gaelic learner. Please keep your personal attacks to yourself. The College is continuing to have world class teachers come in to teach.
ashley macisaac says
well said.and agreed this college is important tofiders.ex.premeirs included and we should.be.so lucky to have such caliber heads of the board,it is improtant to see that the issue of cariculum and events touches such a nerve inpeople.and that is why anyone involved.with it imsure is involved inthe firdt place.because it hits a celtic nerve to discuss it amongst different view points is tottaly healthy ,nust try to keep.the respect.to which it adheres .itself.and leave.personal pplltical bias to better forums …just sayin
MacandTosh says
Oh he is a Gaelic learner alright. Payed for by taxpayers of NS. He is far from a world class fiddler. And don't you dare tell me what i can say. Don't try white-washing Rodney's appointment to the board. Its a very real part of the problem the board has on their hands now. I guaranteeyou that if the board eliminates Highland dancing, piping and drumming, they will indeed have a major problem on their hands. And that will be a hugh loss of thousands of dollars that parents pay into the college. There is politics involved here whether you like to admit it or not.
Glenn Graham says
No, he took Gaelic at St. FX and now attends community Gaelic classes on his own dime. He went through a very competitive interview process and was chosen for the position from among a large number of applicants. He is a world class Cape Breton dance fiddler. Some of the most technically trained fiddlers on the planet are unable to perform the dance style (feel, lift, lilt, drive) that the local idiom/step-dancer demands; just as Rodney wouldn't be considered to be world class in other non-Cape Breton and area 'genres', they couldn't touch him in the domain in question and indeed wouldn't be considered world class. It's all relative as they say. Funny how brave people are in cyber space.
ashley macisaac says
see.now you hax to.go and say something like domt dare you….dont dare.me.what ..tell me what icamt.say about this forum?i have nothing to do with this forum anyless.than you im just another commentor and if you dare.me not to say.amything i think it really sbows true colours,mine maybe liberal red.and rodney,s.maybe tory blue ,,,but you sound a shade of green or yellow neither of which i will envelope my image in,i dont think assuming rodney has become the terminator of john connor fame here makes alot of sense likely he and tracry hav ethought thru alldesisions very carefully,that thinking thru carefully is likely not your forte sorry for my bad grammer ….its a blackberry
Glenn Graham says
hahaha! Well said Ashley.