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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. The question is one of culture, which is an organic, living thing. It cannot – and should not – be legislated by fiat.

  2. My wife and I had been thinking of taken a two week trip to Cape Breton next year To see the collage and see the dancers and pipers and the drummers. However after hearing of the colleges plain to cut these programs and only teach speach as a main stay . We have decided to go else where. So the fine People of Cape Breton can thank the college foe the loss of 2 weeks hotel fees, 2 weeks loss of eating around town and the 2 weeks loss of our spending money plus gifts. So now I suppose we will find something else to do in the USA.

    Sorry People Of Cape Breton !!!

      • Can you direct your anger somewhere else please, this is a rational discussion. No one needs to be spoken to so negatively.

      • Daibhidh MF: maybe it would be best if you stopped jumping in, since you only make negative comments and then claim not to know they are negative.

      • Part 1. Chris, I really like how you tell Daibhidh to stop doing things he obviously stopped doing days ago. Maybe you should read all the comments before giving your ignorant advice, since you only make ignorant comments and claim to not know they are ignorant. Unless, of course, you admit they are ignorant.

      • Part 2:
        Leave your emotion and obvious condescention at the door, and think before you comment if you have any right to make a comment. Jumping in is all you're doing, and personal attacks are all you come in with. At least Daibhidh is apologetic about his tone, you're truly being vicious and coming in at every moment. And you have very little to say about the matter other than what kind of comments people are making. That is my observation from reading these comments. Daibhidh in most places has contributed to the discussion with claims on the topic from his experience, you've only made claims about who's attacking whom, and how it's wrong for someone who disagrees with you to say they're right and you're wrong! You can say that to *anybody* who makes a claim about *anything*… Give it a break, or at least tell us why you have any reason to weigh in on the discussion. I would say that you, Chris, are the loudest voice of irrationality whichever side you claim to be on. There have been merits in either side of the debate, but none in your comments.

  3. Thanks Glenn ~ for writing in a rational context, and making things conversational. I agree with much of what you say, however, who decided that the past 70 years of what many call tradition at the Gaelic College is disposable? Also, if there is a need to change what the GC program as designed by Rev MacLeod (since it has had HD and Piping since 1939, and it opened in 1938) ~ shouldn't that be discussed with the public and community, and not be decided by a small group of people without any detailed notice?

    To the people who slight Highland Dance values? Why is this so? We do our thing and don't complain. We have stepped aside and not once made snide remarks when the Fiddle and Step Dance resurged and became central again. We embraced this. We haven't gone around attacking the Fiddle and the Step Dance (as a matter of fact I am a Step Dancer and have my entire family roots in Inverness). We have no reason to comment negatively on your beliefs, so why do you find it imperative to irrationally call down ours? What do you even know about it? I'm guessing very little based on your immature and uneducated comments. If you would like to comment, at least be respectful as Glenn has and have some proper information to back it up.

    Thank you for the insight Glenn.

  4. Kelly, I admire everyone's passion for this. But our true Gaelic history has to be reclaimed. Changes were needed at the College since its inception. This really is about reclaiming true Cape Breton Gaelic history that had been 'overtaken'. What is being done is backed by solid research, both oral and written. I feel for all affected by the changes. However, we must fix the broken/misinterpreted history. This is a first step in re-establishing the long-ignored Gaelic aspects of our culture from the bottom up. The original decisions at the GC came from one who had already embraced the cultural fashions paternally purveyed by the "improvers". Agency is our way out of a false hegemonic construction and adoption. Along with a revitalization in the language, fiddling, and dance piping among the grass roots that has been going on, this is an important act in the reclaiming process, and trumps any "Gaelic College traditions" that may have to lose prominence in that process. I humbly agree to disagree with some of the postings. :)

    Best,
    Glenn

    • Glenn,

      You forgot to say, "in my humble opinion". There is really no excuse for your comments, except ignorance (and hubris).

      The old "I'm right and you're wrong" approach. A little learning, as they say, is a dangerous thing. Your own "hegemonic constructions" are merely tilting at windmills, and no matter how strongly you feel about it, the history of the GC is what it is. You have no more insight into what "should have been" or "what should be" than anyone else. You wouldn't be the first or the last to attempt to base bad decisions on revisionist history.

      Best, Chris

      • Chris, I am sorry you have that opinion of me. What I have stated is in my view accurate, and I had no intention of coming across as ignorant or proud. I would urge you to refer to posts throughout stressing the importance of keeping this discussion free of personal attacks.

      • Glenn:
        As mentioned in other postings, there is a time and a place for scholarly discussions, but not, in my view, here. Clearly, there is a political move to alter the direction of the GC and many people are quite concerned and upset with that. You do not seem to realise that when you say things like "broken/misinterpreted history" that you are insulting many, many people, and the legacy of many people. You can't feel for what you don't seem to understand.

        History of the GC is what it is; how and why it came to be that way is not changeable. I suggest those with the urge to have an institution that has as its focus a "true hegemonic construction" of CB gaelic history should go and found their own organization and institution and build it up over time. You could be a founding member — you have the passion for it. Do that instead of arguing to take a functioning and much cherished institution and changing it beyond regcognition. Leave the GC alone to do what it has always done best.

      • I have to balk at this one… scholarly discussion has no place here! this is the place for enlightened people who base their knowledge on feeling and whether or not they're insulted! hahah – wow…

        Just so everyone's clear, I'm not afiliated with anyone here – I have no comment, but this Chris character is killing me, and I hope people are taking note of Chris' ridiculousness from every side of the discussion.

  5. I should also mention that the vast majority families in Cape Breton that choose to attend Highland Dance classes can do so at a very limited cost. Competitions are individual, so they can choose to go or not to go and how much they would like to spend. The costumes are passed down through generations and can be bought second hand in wonderful shape. My dancers do not have to pay a great deal of money at all to be part of a culture they believe in.

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