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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. If Ms. Carroll the chair of the board, is not aware of these proposed cut backs then who made this decision ? who gave the story to the media, I thought from Glen Grahams comments that he was on the board as he seemed to know a lot of what was going on. and he is in support of the cut backs. and yet the chairperson was not aware of these drastic measures, Highland dancing is such a beautuful, cultural art ,it will be a huge loss to Cape Breton ,the students, and the college, this is a very narrow view by people who may not in the end know what they are talking about as to what is Gaelic enough, One of the past comments mentioned guitar being in the future disciplines, I love guitar but is it Gaelic or celtic enough ? Surely reason will triumph in this matter..I hope so….I am not thing negative re. Glenn I just wondered if he was on the board….

    • Jeanie, I have the same question re decisions made.

      There are only 2 possibilities going on right now:

      1. The Board and Directors have a very serious communication issue with regards to their programing. Saying 'we have made no cuts (I have comparison programs for the 2011 and 2012 March break Workshop format that say otherwise). And if they want to get in to semantics and call them 'trials' and 'changes' ~ fine ~ but they are 'cuts' to those who were interested in these disciplines, and we may NEVER get this student body back once they go elsewhere for this type instruction. Not having pipes (competitive style), drums or the dance competition (until it was of course re-instated 'possibly' yesterday) for the 2012 season are called 'cuts', no matter what words you choose.

      2. They are not giving us the full truth.

      One of these is happening. If they truly didn't know (hard to believe since it was in black and white in the article) ~ then there is a serious communication gap between the Board and Directors. In this case, the public deserves to be outraged by their lack of interest or education in this area.

      On the other hand, If they did know this direction was being pursued ~ then they are not being truthful in their statements.

      I have a recorded message a friend received from the DOE regarding the Highland Dance Competition (sent to the friend before this blew up). My friend (a fellow dance teacher) called the GC and asked to be enlightened re the Dance Competition. The DOE called her back and left a message on her machine that states that the Highland Dance Competition 'will not' be happening at the Gaelic College this coming summer. This was a direct message ~ as I had also been given ~ and the Board and CEO are saying they had no information regarding anything to do with the Dance Competition? So, are they saying that they let the DOE run rogue and make decisions re the programing and events without having to answer to anyone?

      I also have a newspaper article (wish I could post it here ~ but you can go to CB Post archives I'm sure) which was written on November 23rd. The DOE is quoted in the article as saying 'We are moving away from competitive style events here at the Gaelic College'. 'We would like to focus on Gaelic language and all the most authentic, traditional components of the Gaelic culture'. This backs what I was told by the DOE 100%.

      So, I find it hard to believe that she and the CEO were not in discussion re this new 'focus and format'. I asked the Board Chair if she had seen this article, and she said 'yes' she had. I asked her why these views weren't addressed when the article was written ~ if they weren't the views the Board was supporting? I can't say I really got an answer there…nor would the CEO answer any of my questions when we finally spoke yesterday, however ~ Board Chair said that 'they are likely just philosophies that the director of education holds'. Okay, so this is the Director of Programming and Education? She is presenting these ideals to the public, yet she doesn't have to answer to anyone? I find that hard to believe. I think there should be some 'owning' up to this situation, and I don't think it's fair to make the DOE the scapegoat for either a serious lack of communication or an inability to own up to your own beliefs and actions.

      This is just my opinion.

    • Jeanie, I am NOT on the board and also, do not believe that I said I support the "cut backs". Most of my comments have been about emphasizing that the performance and historical context of these art forms has commonly been misinterpreted. I could get into an explanation of why I think there is a rationale for the guitar and piano inclusion in the programming, but I'll perhaps leave that for another time. Back to the 'board' thing. I can't pinpoint why you would think that. The information on the programming is available for anyone to see on Gaelic College website. That's where I got the information. The 2012 program says that highland dance is being taught. Kelly is noting that even if that is so, the total highland dance experience that was offered in the past may not be offered in the future. I can't comment on that as I can only tell you what I am seeing in the 2012 programming on the website as I am writing this. I gave a position that if a choice, and I emphasize choice because only so many genres can be taught at one time– has to be made between teaching the language and art-forms in the local context, as passed down aurally from our immigrant Gaels, or teaching them in the competition context/styles that were still quite foreign to the locals at the time of the College's inception, I would out of my grounding in the historical aspect, choose the former. However, if all-inclusivity is or ever would be possible, I think all would agree that that would be the direction to take. Perhaps in presenting what I have discovered through extensive research, I have come across as wanting to 'eliminate' when in reality, I am for diversity and the possibility for co-existence. I do however, hope that the performance and historical contexts of all of the art-forms in question will be a part of the educational experience. That would probably increase the chances for healthy diversity and co-existence.

      • Thank you Glenn for clearing up that up for me , I have often time enjoyed listening to you play at the concerts, and I think a good solution would be that the language should be included as part of all the students programmes ,then a better understanding would take place of the connection between the language,the dance ,and the pipe music but summer classes will not be enough,student leave and go back to thier home be it in the states or all over Canada , they would have to find a gaelic class somewhere and that will not be easy. There was a movement a few years ago to have it taught in schools in Cape Breton was that a success ,I would like to know …..

      • Glenn Graham wrote "I gave a position that if a choice, and I emphasize choice because only so many genres can be taught at one time– has to be made between teaching the language and art-forms in the local context, as passed down aurally from our immigrant Gaels, or teaching them in the competition context/styles that were still quite foreign to the locals at the time of the College's inception, I would out of my grounding in the historical aspect, choose the former."

        Glenn, perhaps a suggestion you haven't considered is to start another institution from the "ground up" that ensures the focus you think is most relevant, and leave the GC to continue to do what is has always done really, really well.

      • Chris, you left out the rest of my insight which would provide better context for both my post and for the readers of the comments board. It could be misleading with regard to my views: I continued on to say, "However, if all-inclusivity is or ever would be possible, I think all would agree that that would be the direction to take. Perhaps in presenting what I have discovered through extensive research, I have come across as wanting to 'eliminate' when in reality, I am for diversity and the possibility for co-existence. I do however, hope that the performance and historical contexts of all of the art-forms in question will be a part of the educational experience. That would probably increase the chances for healthy diversity and co-existence."

      • Glenn: I believe you are being disingenuous. You know there is an impending likelihood of a backlash over this; you can see and hear the concerns and frustrations of people who are not in agreement with the "new direction" the GC seems headed toward.

        You may not be on the GC Board Glenn, but given the fact that you’re Rodney MacDonald’s (the new “CEO”) cousin and once owned a music label with him, don’t you think it’s a touch inappropriate that you’re wading into the discussions here? It would be a stretch to believe that your many posts on this site (to educate people on the lack of “purity” that’s characterised the GC’s approach and offerings since its inception) are meant to be neutral with respect to the “new direction” of the GC.

      • Chris, are you the guy I see at pipers all the time? Your comments are awfully cocky.

        And you're calling Glenn disingenuous? lol! You've been picking phrases out of his comments to create an argument, unfairly leaving out meaningful context. It's totally manipulative and misleading! You create conspiracy theories that the history could be dark for the Gaelic College under Rodney, throwing around a ridiculous private resort idea (bordering on slander), and then say his CEO job is a "plum" appointment when the story of his HIRING on the website states: "There were well over 30 candidates for the position including from Scotland," said Gaelic College chair Maureen Carroll. "Rodney was the top choice." The selection committee took a full month to evaluate the submissions. The committee narrowed the field to seven, interviewed them all and scored and evaluated them independently."

        Chris, I think it's inappropriate that YOU are wading into the discussions because your spineless attacks on Glenn's person are rather contemptible, and are especially furtive.

        And, if you had any right to say Glenn is being disingenuous, then I'd have the right to say you're being slimy, but that kind of name-calling is rude, don't you think?

    • I know that you were a board member (may still be one?) and I'm just wondering if anyone from the board has commented (officially) about the proposed change in direction. Since this decision is likely to be carefully considered by those sponsoring bursaries it would seem prudent for the board to say yea or nay. Certainly it is not a decision to be easily made by a new regime. I hope we can all work together and get back on track.

      • douglas dubh, I am not on the board ,I resigned 2 years ago, I had to come back to Ontario to look after my daughter who had been involved in a head on collision, I did stay on for awhile by telephone meetings ,but in the end I thought it better to resign and leave an opening for some one local to be involved , …..

  2. The first pipe band recording I ever listened to was The Gaelic College Pipe Band (1973). My first teacher learned to play at the Gaelic College. I competed many times (solo and band) at the Mod growing up. All of my formal training was centered around pipe band training. When I arrived in Antigonish to attend University I met many like minded Celtic musicians and was introduced to the Gaelic traditions of Nova Scotia. I had the opportunity to play with many fiddlers and step dancers and even played in a Grade 1 pipe band that was heavily influenced by Gaelic music with two very prominent "Cape Breton Style" pipers. I even made a living for 16 years playing a combination of Cape Breton, pipe band style and popular music.

    Glen Graham and even Daibhidh MF are not wrong. Nova Scotian Gaelic culture has been co-opted by the romanticized version of Scottish culture over the years and an effort to "re-claim" or re-establish these unique idioms and styles that are influenced by the language is fantastic. With that being said, eliminating competition style Celtic arts is not the solution to achieve the goals of re-claiming the traditions. Both can co-exist and be mutually advantageous to the other. In fact, I would argue that this coexistence of both idioms is what truly makes piping in Nova Scotia unique. Although there are highly skilled pipers who cannot execute the "Cape Breton Style" of more accurately the Piping for Dancing Style, there are dozens and dozens maybe hundreds of Nova Scotian pipers who can. I teach some and they play in my pipe band so I know.

    We have seen a decline in the number of youth learning Highland Bagpipes and snare drum over the last several years in Nova Scotia and there are very few venues or games left in the province where we can compete. My concern is that the elimination of the pipe band idiom in favour of a Gaelic style will contribute to the further decline in enrollment in piping and drumming in general in the province. We will also see Nova Scotian players leave the province for competition training as The Gaelic College is the only such institution in the province that was providing such training other than local pipe bands.

    I fully respect the need and desire to reclaim the culture based on language and dance and this should be done. However, I have a gut feeling that being too insular and eliminating other established idioms in Nova Scotia will not serve piping well in general in our province. Both styles can coexist. They already do and they can serve to compliment each other. I believe offering both will make the College stronger and increase enrollment all the while respecting the founders vision (right or wrong) and the need to celebrate our unique culture based on the language and dancing.

    • Scott,

      I 100% agree with everything you have written. You and I have both been fortunate enough to live 'both' sides of the culture ~ the competition circuit, as well as the fiddle/ceilidh side. Many of the people on the fiddle/ceilidh side have not been involved on the competition side at all, so that makes it very difficult to express what that ideal means to the culture.

      I have already had several emails and messages from piping and drumming folk who have said they would now have to leave the Island ~ once again ~ to learn and master their skills at such places as the College of Piping in PEI. That is the only other Maritime Institution teaching a program similar to what was once offered at the Gaelic College. Great for them ~ not great for Cape Breton.

      We don't have a great deal of piping or drumming instructors in Cape Breton right now. The students who attend the Gaelic College will now have limited outlets for learning. With the workshop programs gone, the piping and drumming will eventually go with it ~ as you said.

      I hope this is re-evaluated sooner than later, because once we lose them on the Island…they could be gone forever.

  3. PART 2 : In response to Chris MacNeil.
    We who have studied at the magnificent Gaelic college understand the difference between how "Highland Dancing" must be ideally, performed with Rhythm and Music. A Piper playing for a "Highland Dancer" will almost always play a slightly different style for a "Step Dancer". However, to reiterate – the Celtic Arts are all intertwined – and are inseparable, as each enhances and is an integral part of each other. Our ancestors all came from the same place. Let us honour their arts together. Whether we were born in Cape Breton, other parts of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island – indeed wherever – we all have a duty to respect honour and pass along our entire precious heritage.

    • Thank you Mary. Spot on! I like what you said — that "..we all have a duty to respect honour and pass along our entire precious heritage."

      I sincerely hope the curriculum removals already made will be reversed; that the proposed changes to the core curriculum and past practice does not occur (e.g., with HD competition); and that additions sought can be reached in a spirit of negotiation and compromise allowing for wide consultation among those many, many people with a history of experience at the GC, wherever they reside. I hope to hear of a concerted effort to turn this around. In my view, the problem with "plum" appointments (political patronage) is the person appointed is not typically working for the wider good but for themselves and their own advancement (and their own own new capacity to provide patronage to their favourite people and things). The appointment of Rodney macDonald will, I believe, prove to be a huge mistake and a dark time for the GC, as we're already seeing.

  4. I can see no reasons that make sense for the radical changes the new "CEO" wants to bring to the GC. The people picking fights by saying the GC celtic arts are not sufficiently of the CB heritage are just wrong. The only thing picking a fight serves is to open the door to a "rationale" for the changes. It is truly wrong-headed in my opinion. People need to rise up and say "no, this is not okay".

    • I'm only responding to you because all of your comments are late-coming and you obviously have not read all of the comments before commenting. I don't see it fit that others are being labelled as having the same "rationale" as mine – I'm my own man, and my words are from my own humble opinion. So, let people speak for themselves rather than putting words in their mouths or making vicious assumptions about the rationale behind their apparent choices.

      I made the personal decision to leave this all alone and get on with everything else before I read this comment, but apparently a few things need clarification.

      I will leave in saying this – I have tremendous respect for Highland Dance, and other traditions mentioned, and I will admit that many of my comments on this post have been short-sighted and I didn't expect them to come under the scrutiny and malice I have received. My confidence, as many of you see as arrogance, comes from my experience, and my friends' experiences, of the Gàidhealtachd, which I thought deserved some advocacy amidst the confusion and misinformation.

      I am no expert, I'm not an authority on the issues, I'm not a professor or any person in a meaningful position, so, if I have you bothered because of my tone or manner, ignore my comments and pay attention to the opposition proposed by those who know much more about it than I do – because they're here, they're listening, and they deserve more respect than they're getting, even in the fact that I probably shouldn't have commented because those who are against me are painting them all with the same brush. For that I owe an apology to my superiors on these issues for being so quick in responding, and humbly I would ask them, if it's not beneath them, to do what they can in response to this because I know that a scholarly perspective isn't being advocated nearly enough here. I was speaking as an average Gael, but don't think that I see myself as a spokesperson for the Gaidhealtachd, I'm only speaking from what experience I've had and what I've learned in my 10+ years of Gaelic Language study, 8+ years of dancing, and 17+ years of Gaelic song, and life of learning Gaelic history, out of my 20 years on earth. I have a passion for this. I admit this passion doesn't make me an expert. But I can`t help but wonder… what makes you the expert, Chris? What gives you your air of entitlement and authority?

      • Part 1
        "…many of my comments on this post have been short-sighted and I didn't expect them to come under the scrutiny and malice I have received". Daibhidh MF: Its the malice *in* your comments that people are bothered by. I appreciate your conciliatory tone and comments now, but the matter at hand is unchanged.

        No-one is saying "don't make the proposed changes". There is no malice toward them being included, but there is grave concern about limiting the GC to those and basically throwing out all the rest — all the rest have been a central part of the lives of CBers and others for many long years. I don't believe anyone needs a "scholarly perspective" here — there is a place for that and a context.

      • Part 2
        The changes that are being proposed by the "new CEO & co" at the GC are, I believe, a thinly disguised political move. I would be very happy to be wrong about that. The "picking a fight" and having people argue about which music is better, or whether to include competitive dancing or not are, I believe, a distraction from what is going on in the background. I am very glad that Kelly McArthur had the courage to make the issues public — to raise awareness of what is happening at the GC.

      • Part 3
        You (Daibhidh MF) might consider worrying whether you and your passion for your concerns are being used for purposes you don't know about. Rodney MacDonald is no lamb in the woods — there are usually other agendas behind a push for radical changes like this. The problem is, nobody knows yet what those agendas are. Won't you feel like a fool if, in a few years when the new direction of the GC fails, the area is turned into a private resort? That is the kind of thing that may happen when the core areas of funding the GC are taken out of the curriculum. As a famous magician once told me (the amazing randi), don't look where I want you to look, because if you do I can fool you every time. My take on this is that we're being goaded to fight about curriculum decisions when the purpose of the proposed (and recent past) changes are not really about those.

      • And what back up do you have to support such claims? Those are big, big, big claims you're making and I highly suggest this isn't the forum for such slanderous, speculative and biased speech that is so thankfully free in Canada. As has been mentioned in previous posts, and by Kelly, let's focus on the topic at hand and reduce personal attacks here. Are you attacking the morals of the Board or of Rodney? I am hurt either way that such a thing could be thought. Boards have responsibilities to public funders that have put millions into this school. It would be impossible to turn it around from anything but that intention. Be careful that you understand how board governance works and the history of how the Gaelic College was set up please before making such comments!

      • At one time a few years back the college was almost closed,there was a interested party with a tourist facility in Baddeck.
        waiting with bated breath to grab that facility,so Chris ,it is not too far fetched to think what you just said re. private resort……

      • I know Jeanie. As I mentioned above, I'd be happy to be wrong. But I am a worrier, and to me many of the signs point in a direction that may not be in the best long-term interests of the GC.

    • PART 1 : In response to Chris MacNeil.
      Thank you Chris for sharing your thoughts. I for one, intend to see this through to the only resolution that is respectful of all involved. This is absolutely not OK – or acceptable!!
      I have lived, studied and competed in Canada, Scotland and Ireland for many years – as a result of the precious training I was afforded by the brilliant artists who dedicated themselves as instructors at the Gaelic College of Celtic Arts. I feel it important to say that in Scotland, and Ireland, there is absolutely no distinction or prevalence given to any particular Celtic Art…NONE!!!! Each of the arts is taught and treated equally as valuable to our heritage. I cannot emphasize this more strongly, as I know with absolute certainty…IT IS TRUE!!! This does include "Highland Dancing", the "Great Highland Bagpipe", Pipe Band Drumming (Snare, Tenor and Bass), the "Violin" (Fiddle…so as not to offend how anyone refers to this instrument), " Step Dancing", "Irish Dancing" the "Piano" which is also included at most all authentic Celtic Gatherings.

  5. If the Board of Governors at the Gaelic College no longer wishes to organize the Highland Dance Competition and competitive piping, why not form a separate organization that will. I assume the decision being made by the board is a difficult one driven by limited resources – by having a separate group organize and run the competition, the use of limited Gaelic College dollars will no longer be an issue. Interested parties should run it themselves, and run it better than before! They could sign a contract to have the Gaelic College serve as the venue if the organizing entity wishes to stay at the College – it would be in the Board's interest to have the competitions on their grounds if for no other reason than to advertise their classes.

    • As for the Highland Dance Competition, the issue is not money. Highland Dance Competitions break even with entries, admissions and canteen, and in the case they go a little (at the most) under ~ that can be fund raised. This was not why the competition was cut. The GC Director of Education told me directly that their format is to be 'non' competitive and that would mean the competition is out. This is what began the conversation.

      The other issue is that it is a big presence in GC tradition to have the competition AT the GC, supported by the GC. Yes, we might have to move it elsewhere under a different name because we have no choice…but this means a huge part of Highland Dance and Gaelic College history is lost forever.

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