Ulster Scots Dance Alliance - Classes, Workshops & Events

The Ulster-Scots Dance Alliance is a busy and active organisation, helping to co-ordinate:

Weekly dance workshops
We organise weekly training workshops facilitated by professional Highland Dance tutors from Scotland and one locally based Highland Dance tutor:
- to teach young people, from 4 years old, the art of Highland Dance to competition and performance level, enabling them to develop to their full potential.
- to train senior students and adult trainee teachers to the required standard, thus enabling them to acquire recognised teaching qualifications creating a situation where Ulster will be self-sufficient in locally based dance tutors.
- to teach young people country dance, theatre dance and tap dance with a distinctly Ulster flavour and the importance of preserving and developing Ulster Scots dance traditions in a modern world.

Promotional performances
The Alliance organises dance displays at high profile events which include a series of Burns Night celebrations, Highland Games, Ulster-Scots events, Cross-Community events and high profile events with TV coverage.
- to promote Ulster-Scots dance throughout the Province to as wide and varied an audience as possible
- to create a climate of acceptance of all forms of Ulster-Scots dance
- to increase the number of young people participating in Highland Dance

Outreach projects
The Alliance organises visits to schools and community centres to raise awareness of Highland Dance at a local level. This has resulted in Highland Dance workshops being included in the school curriculum.
- to develop athleticism and physical co-ordination by learning complex dance movements
- to develop an appreciation of traditional culture and heritage

Highland Dance competitions
The Alliance organises a number of high profile dance competitions each year, with 9 competitions during 2005 and 11 in 2006. All competitions are held under the rules of the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing; dancers will also compete at competitions held in Scotland to gain experience and improve ability.
- to provide sufficient local competitions to meet the needs of local dancers, especially in the lower grades
- to develop and train volunteers capable of organising and running competitions to the highest standards
- to provide an opportunity for dancers to travel and compete in Scotland

Highland Dance examinations
Highland Dance examinations are held throughout the year. These are run in accordance with the United Kingdom Alliance and organised locally by the Tutor and individual groups.
AIM:
- to provide continuous personal development
- to provide a measure of improved standards on a year-to-year basis

Live Music Workshops
The Alliance has identified local pipers who are interested in playing for dancers. A series of workshops is planned to train local pipers in the special skills required for piping at dance competitions. This project will also include other musicians who will work with dancers on set pieces.
- to pipe at Highland Dance competitions thus reducing dependency on pipers from Scotland
- to provide live accompaniment for dancers at high profile events Cross-

Community Development
The Alliance upholds the importance of offering equality of access to everyone irrespective of gender, disability or religious affiliation, to work with all sections of the community and to participate in cross community events.

Group Activities
Border Minority Group
The Border Minority Group dancers have had quite a busy year performing their various Highland Dances at an Ulster Scots Showcase event in Edentilone near Aughnacloy, the official launch of Monaghan County Heritage Plan in Castleblayney, at a cross-border cross-community projects celebration event in Largy College,Clones and also at the Ulster-Scots Heritage Council's "Border Counties Gathering" in Ballyalbany. They have also performed at local events such as picnics and variety concerts which have taken place throughout the year.

We have recently recommenced our Highland dance classes for 5 - 14 yrs and these are running every Saturday. Times and venues are as follows Castleblaney Presbyterian Hall 12am - 1.15pm, Cootehill Church of Ireland hall 2pm - 3.15pm and Ballyalbany Presbyterian Hall 4pm - 5.15pm.

Further details from
Border Minority Group,
Market House,
Newbliss,
Co Monaghan.
Email: info@borderminoritygroup.ie or
Phone 047-54922/087-6493451.

Moyne Highland Dancers
2006 was a good year for the Moyne Highland Dancers having successfully secured the services for Georgina Kee & Shelly Ann Campbell to teach the pupils after having no tutor for 8 months. February saw the Dancers taking part in their first Burns Supper Celebrations which lead to the group becoming better known in South Donegal. Since that the dancers have performed at concerts, festivals and the 12th Demonstration in Rossnowlagh. In August four of our dancers entered their first Highland Dancing Competition and won 12 medals between them, they have also travelled to Portrush, and two in Belfast where they have also won medals. In 2007 we hope to hold the first ever Highland Dancing Competition in the Republic of Ireland.

Bright Lights
Rollercoaster 2006 for Bright Lights. Commencing January Bright Lights danced at a number of high profile Burns Night Celebrations. During the year we have danced at a number of venues including the International Highland Games also Ulster-Scots Agency presentations of 'The Dawn of the Ulster-Scots'.

Senior dancers danced at a cross-cultural event in France in March 2006.

Outreach Development project has made satisfactory progress with beginners classes started in Primary Schools and local centres.

Outstanding success at competitions Bright Lights dancers won a record 58 overall winners trophies. The majority of our members will be doing medal and theory examinations in December.

Planned for 14th July 2007 is a Highland Dancing Competition to be run as part of the Glenarm Castle Highland Games events.

Magherafelt Highland & Country Dancing Group
Magherafelt Highland & Country Dancers have had a very busy year taking part in competitions and performing at several events - Burns' Night Celebrations, Culture evenings and local Concerts especially performing at the Burnavon Centre Cookstown and Glenarm Castle Highland Games.

The group is rehearsing for a Christmas Concert to be held in Magherafelt during December. In January 2007 the members will be taking part in more Burns' Night celebrations and will be doing their medal and theory examinations.

Maguiresbridge Highland & Scottish Country Dancing Group
The Maguiresbridge Highland & Scottish Country Dancing Group was formed 2003 to develop and encourage both aspects of dance in Fermanagh.

It has been very successful largely as a result of the dedication of the Chairperson Christine Rusk. The committee secured funding from Awards for All in the second year and third years, and at present are seeking funding from the Ulster-Scots Agency to pay for their tutor Miss Gillian Jones who travels from Belfast. Highland dancing was taught on Tuesdays in the local Primary School in Maguiresbridge but is now held each Saturday from 3.00 p.m. - 5.00 p.m. in an attempt to encourage children from all sections of the community to learn and enjoy Highland dancing.

Ladies and Gentlemen meet each Tuesday night from 8.00 p.m. - 10.00 p.m. in Maguiresbridge Primary School to learn Scottish Country Dancing. They travel to various events over the province and do simple demonstrations in County Fermanagh to encourage all adults to participate in this part of our culture and to remain fit and healthy while enjoying a very social activity.