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.
Kelly says
I think that some people have taken the article in the wrong direction. This is not a debate as to whether or not the Gaelic language should be a focus at the College. This is not a debate on the 'relevance' of any one discipline in comparison to another. Those are battles on their own.
NO ONE in Cape Breton has the right to tell others WHAT is their tradition, heritage or culture. We have MANY cultures in CB, and they should all be respected. Pushing your own thoughts and history lessons on folk does not solve any issues, especially since ALL HISTORY is a select people's 'interpretation'. Anyone can write a book and have it published…does that make it 'the word'. I don't believe that is so.
THE point here is that the Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts has been running for 70+ years, offering studies in all things that MOST Cape Bretoners, Nova Scotians and Canadians (and elsewhere) think is part of our Celtic/Gaelic/Scottish/Cape Breton history. These have become core areas of study at the College, and deserve the respect and loyalty of the new administration. People making comments who have never been a student at the GC would not understand.
Making the GC an 'inclusive' place to study what SOME believe to be the 'only' areas of true CB culture is a very elite and nepotistic view of our community. The Gaelic College is about COMMUNITY. It is about generations of families continuing a tradition THEY believe in whole-heartedly. The GC started with this plan upon its creation, and it is unbelievable that a small group of the CB population believe that was 'not' the intended plan and that they KNOW the direction that was intended!!!
The Gaelic College does NOT belong to solely the people of Cape Breton. It belongs to the Province, the Country and the World. It is not the place of these few people to think they have the right to take that away.
I think I agree with a man who wrote here earlier (as well as many who have written in other messages in the same area). The gaelic speaking folk, with their 'own' ideals of that culture ~ should open their own institution and teach what they strongly believe in. They can start their own program and bring it into history. At the same time, the Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts should be allowed to continue its tradition as well, teaching generations of students from all over the world the sectors of the culture true to them. We can all co-exist without taking something valuable away from the other.
CapeBretoner says
"Anyone can write a book and have it published…does that make it 'the word'. I don't believe that is so ". This is the second time this has been said, and I think it should be addressed. If you actually read the book, you would realize it is comprised of numerous interviews conducted with people (young and old) who are practicing the culture. It is not one man’s account – it is a culmination of their experiences with the Cape Breton music and culture. Not everyone can write a book and have it published by a reputable publishing company and I think it's unfair for you to discredit this author by making such a comment. Especially, since he spent countless hours writing about a subject he is deeply passionate about. It's disheartening.
The current fact of the matter is: the Highland Dance program is still being offered at the Gaelic College. The article is misleading the public and many are thinking there will be no highland dance at the college, which is not the case. The GC has made a decision to focus on education versus competition. They have simply removed the ‘competitive’ aspect. There is room for all aspects of the culture – please make room for those which have been ignored for many years. Using resources to keep the competitive event is preventing other valuable content from being delivered (i.e. Gaelic language classes, celtic guitar accompaniment etc). Something’s gotta give!
P.S. when you use capital letters to emphasize words, you are yelling at people.
Kelly says
The point about writing the book was that anyone who chooses can go this route, yet it may not be fact. I have read the book. I appreciate the hours and energy ~ it's not about 'that book' ~ it's about saying someone knows everything because they wrote one. (And it wasn't thew person who wrote it saying so himself ~ so this is not about the author).
The article is NOT misleading, as it stated that the Dance Competition was ended, and that Highland will be faded out. This information came directly from the source, and it is the reason (along with the comp) for the article…to make people aware before it's too late.
The competition is self supporting ~ so money is a non-issue. If they don't have the budget ~ we fundraise it and that's it. No need to even go into a financial discussion as it doesn't apply. This is not their reasoning ~ directly again from the source.
When did guitar accompaniment become part of the Gaelic culture? It is not with the tradition at all. i think it's a great course, but it has no more rights than dance.
Gaelic has NEVER been ignored at the Gaelic College. Not once. Does it need to come to the forefront more? Yes. But that does not mean the disposal of other great things.
And I am not an authority on the semantics of a public forum, but to me, caps means making something stand out for recognition. But thanks so much for the lesson.
Sarah says
I re-read the article, and the only mention of Highland Dance's future at the GC is:
'Eventually, they hope to fade out one of the College’s longest standing areas of study, Highland Dance'.
'Eventually' they plan to fade it out. It's stated plainly and easily.
The rest of the article is mostly about the loss of the HD Competition.
I fail to see how this is misleading unless you fail to actually read the article.
Darlene Mac Donald says
To promote, preserve and perpetuate through studies in all related areas – the culture, music, language, arts, crafts, customs and traditions of immigrants from the highlands of Scotland…… This is the mission statement of the Gaelic College from their own website.It would appear the new agenda has decided to throw that out the window.This is not a private club,but decisions are being made like it is.
Nona MacDonald-Dyke says
http://gaeliccollege.edu/school/summer-school/cou…. I just took the opportunity to look at the link provided by Glen Graham…..Highland Dancing is on the agenda for this year at the College, as is Piping, plus some newly added courses like Guitar accompaniment, and Gaelic Drama. I feel the College will grow in leaps and bounds under this new leadership, who obviously felt changes were needed in some areas. I think what is being eliminated at the College is competitive dancing, piping, etc. which isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Kelly says
Being eventually eliminated is anything that doesn't fit into what a select group of people believe to be the current Gaelic Culture of Cape Breton Island. There are many factors to Highland Dance other than competition ~ ESPECIALLY in Cape Breton ~ where so few dancers are highly competitive, and most have great ties with generations of dancers. fiddlers, pipers, etc. It is much more a family thing here than anywhere else. It is engraved in our culture. period. Yes, some other areas with Highland Dance do not have this same outlook, but it survives here.
I find your view interesting as you have children who grew up at the College, you put your time and money into a competitive bagpipe & drumming (pipeband) education and saw your daughters go off with the GC Band to proudly win a World Championships.
I also know you have tie ins with the Gaelic community, and that is also wonderful. I remember when both your daughter were frequent award winners at the Gaelic Mod in song and story.
How easily so many of us forget what kept our roots strong and going.
All can co-exist and be successful and promote the growth of each other.
Highland Pipes and Drumming are no linger in the GC program ~ only Cape Breton style piping. Highland Dance is there for this summer, but I was told directly that it would be phased out along with the other disciplines (bodhran, harp, etc).
Nona MacDonald-Dyke says
Kelly, I've never forgotten my roots, just as I've never forgotten the stories told to me, by the farmers in Middle River who raised me, of how wonderful the Mod was in the early years, when after hay-making, many of the farmers from there, would pack a picnic and go spend a day on the hill at the Mod. Nor will I forget them telling me how they loved to see the dancers leaping and landing so lightly on their feet. They'd never seen the like! I believe all of the instructors came from Scotland, even the Gaelic instructors.
Today there isn't a Mod, but there are wonderful events showcasing Cape Breton talent taking place elsewhere on the Island.
Please don't misunderstand my previous comments with condoning programs being eliminated at the College, because that certainly wasn't what I wrote. I firmly believe they all work well together, and have! I'm just not keen on the stressfulness of competitions.
Kelly says
Thanks Nona! That was great clarification :) I'm happy you can still feel a place to have both exist along together. I too feel the Gaelic should be highlighted, but not at a cost to other things.
D. Mac Gillivary says
Well, yes. A very sad time in Cape Breton , Nova Scotia , Canadian history. Our daughter was in Highland Dancing lessons for ten years or so and we again were so proud to share an active, visual part of our beautiful Scottish culture. My daughter lives and works in Calgary but still speaks fondly of her Highland Dancing days with Janice Mac Quarrie . Singing with the Gaelic Choir under the direction of Cataloin and speaking with Hector was a privilege to see her share the language , dance and song with so many from here and afar that is being kept alive by so many dedicated persons in our mists. . These young ambassadors continue to spread the culture of our beloved Nova Scotia.
My mom's family were all Gaelic speakers from Christmas Island area .I am proud to know some Gaelic and use it whenever possible. We must not let these unique experiences, pieces of history drift away. We will not be able to recreate what we will loose. Governors, as elected representatives to this all important role , I and many others strongly request that you reconsider your decisions in the light of the outpouring of such sincere and dedicated people . Please do not omit this so important part of our culture from our represented College .
Scott M says
Replying to all posts by Daibhidh MF:
I see by your self proclamation that you know it all. Reminding us constantly of your credentials, and throwing out you rants and raves -mostly off topic- and rudely interrupting the rational flow of this conversation.
Well, guess what buddy? You don't know it all. You aren't even getting the point. You have never been to a highland dance competition, never been to a highland dance class, and you likely have never attended the gaelic college summer camp as a student. You couldn't possibly understand the feelings, beliefs and traditions that are happening in and around THIS part of our culture. You also don't 'own' our culture, neither does the Gaelic speaking folk. It belongs to us all to interpret as we evolve.
The point here has never been, as the article and its author have stated over and over again, whether or not the highland dance of now is authentic to the scottish roots of early days, or whether it connects to our 're established' gaelic culture as a few see it. The topic is not if it truly fits 100 % in to the rational of a few studied in the cape breton gaelic culture they believe in today.
The point IS that the highland dance, piping and other studies that have been around at the gaelic college have been part of THAT FACILITY for decades and decades. Students have attended THAT facility as it is for all those years and made THAT the tradition of the gaelic college as it stands. The majority of people of cape breton seem to back this ~ for whatever reasons (and it would be nice for you NOT to tell us what we all believe is the reason since you don't know me from adam and have no clue of my studies or knowledge).
I have been following over 500 messages, tweets, responses and comments to Miss MacArthur's article, and it seems to me that the deep passion she shares for her love of what she believes to be an important part of cb culture, is shared by 496 of these others responding.
Seeing these numbers, if I were you, I wouldn't be so quick to step up on my high horse of historical knowledge and look down on the rest of us who are as much a part of the culture here as you claim to be.
Miss MacArthur has not once been rude, she hasn't ranted. She has used fact, passion and a fierce love for her beliefs and traditions to express a great loss to a huge part of the cape breton community and lifestyle. An institution that has run for 70 years on passion, pride and substance of tradition IT believes in.
If you 'Gaelic' folk feel so strongly about your own culture, why don't you find a different facility to host these Gaelic beliefs, and leave the Gaelic College to forge ahead with what it does best and what has been their program forever – which is promoting the arts of the culture of Scotland and the Island as was intended by those who created it. Who are you to say 'they did it wrong' and change it now? Find your own venue and open your own solely inclusive narrow minded Gaelic teaching facility and leave the Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts alone. In 2012, it's highly unlikely your facility would survive on Gaelic alone. No offense to the Gaelic – just the hard facts.
Ann E. Gray says
Scott M, whoever you are, that was a brilliant way to put it – thanks for sharing your views in a manner that's so to-the-point.
Daibhidh MF says
Hey Scott, Thanks for not giving me a taste of my "own medicine" by ranting or being rude. Your lack of hypocrisy in this comment is greatly appreciated.
I'm no expert. Hell no. I'm a student, and am doing that – studying. There are much better comments on here in support of the Gaelic College's decision than mine, and commenting on my tone does nothing to support the flow of conversation either buddy. So start playing by your own rules. If you want to take me down a peg, you'd better take yourself down a few.
Chris MacNeil says
Thank you Scott M: well said! The "Daibhidh MF" posts have been the most insulting and the most "high horse" in tone.
The GC has been doing a fantastic job in many ways, and the loss of any of the core areas is truly a shame. There is no need for the fight that has been picked by those dedicated to removing core teachings from the GC's curriculum. Thanks again Scott.