DANCE



The Irish Dance Center is based in Austin, Texas. After many years of teaching students in Ireland and all over the United States, world champion dancer, Eimir Ni Mhaoileidigh, T.C.R.G., settled in Austin and founded the Irish Dance Center in 1997. The Center will host a Ceili Dance Workshop on the Kelpie Stage. The workshop will cover basic dances for people with little or no experience in Irish dance. Fun for all ages. No partner necessary. See schedule for details.

  
 

The Hill Country Highland Dancers

Highland dancing is the oldest Scottish dance form. The Highland Fling and Sword Dance date back to the Middle Ages and have a ritual, war-like character. In the eighteenth century, Highland dancing was influenced by ballet, giving a graceful, feminine character to dances like the Seann Triubhas and the Scottish Lilt. Vigorous dances like the Sailor's Hornpipe and the Irish Jig were borrowed from neighboring cultures, but are mainstays at Highland games and performances.

Susanna Ross founded the Hill Country Highland Dancers in 1980. Susanna's students have competed in Highland games at all levels throughout Texas and the Midwest. The Hill Country Dancers have performed at events throughout the central Texas area.  Our dancers range in age from 8 to .... well, let's just say "over 40". We are always looking for new dancers who enjoy the companionship, exercise and fun that Highland dancing offers. If you or your child would like to try it, give one of us a call (Suanna Ross: 477-8960; Mike Downer: 477-0792)!
 

Austin Scottish Country Dance Society (ASCDS) Come and enjoy a wonderful demonstration of Scottish Country Dancing on the Kelpie Stage. This is the social dancing of Scotland, and is the forerunner of Square Dancing here in the USA. You will notice similarities in the steps and formations. SCD is now danced all over the world, and is great exercise for both the body and the mind. At the ACA Festival we will have dancers from both the ASCDS adult classes and the Family Class, showing that SCD is for people of all ages. After the demonstration on Saturday, you will have the opportunity of trying out some simple dances, expertly taught by Sarah Harriman. We will also have details of all our classes, times and location. Come and join us; it is more fun than pounding a treadmill!
 

Breton Dancing is the traditional dance of Brittany. Breton Dancing is very easy to learn and a great participation activity for the uninitiated. Dance workshops in Breton dance will take place on Saturday and Sunday on the Kelpie stage. Perfect for children and adults. Music by Heather Gilmer, Serge Laine and Lisa Whatley with instruction by Yoshimi Masou and Jan Zollar.
 

Scottish Country Dance Alliance of Austin
SCDA IS SIX YEARS OLD!!
Celebrating both traditional Scottish Country Dance and Ceilidh (party) dancing, SCDA exists for its members, friends, visitors and guests just to have pure fun with Scottish dance. Join us during the festival weekend for a fun dance workshop on Scottish Ceilidh Dancing on Sunday. Watch for upcoming quarterly ceilidh dance workshops in Austin as SCDA undertakes to bring this fun dance form to the community on a regular basis. And with a few of these events under your belt, you'll be ready for the first Austin Ceilidh Dance Ball, organized and presented by the Scottish Country Dance Alliance of Austin. Check our website at www.scda.us and contact us if interested in signing up for ceilidh dance workshops throughout the year. Come visit us at our booth in the pavilion during the festival.   Contact  Anne Catriona Marshall for further information
 
 

The Celtic Menagerie (CM), based in Corpus Christi, is Texas’ best known and most exciting Scottish dance troupe, and has been entertaining audiences at festivals, highland games and private functions across the state for more than eleven years.

CM’s combination of traditional Scottish dance forms, original choreography, and compelling musical selections makes them unique among Scottish dance groups. Celtic Menagerie’s creative flair and showmanship keeps them in demand to “swing their kilts” across the state as they entertain and educate audiences of all ages.

Highlights of CM’s current performance year include: the “Austin Celtic Festival”, the “San Antonio Highland Games”, “Bayfest-Corpus Christi”, “Corpus Christi International Festival” ,”George West Storyfest”, and the “Sam Houston Folk Life Festival” in Huntsville.
 

Roan Inish Damhsa (Irish Gaelic for DANCING ISLAND OF THE SEALS) is the newest Celtic step dancing duo to emerge on the South Plains.

With diverse dancing backgrounds and Celtic roots, Christina Proper and Kristen Williamson perform invigorating Irish step dances (hard and soft shoe) to a wide variety of Irish, Scottish, and early American jigs, slip jigs, reels, slides, slow airs, hornpipes, barn dances, and polkas.

Versed in traditional Irish step dancing, this powerful duo trained and danced under Kathleen Finley with the High Plains Irish Dancers (Lubbock) senior performance company.

Performing at various venues and special events, Roan Inish Damhsa joins the ever growing family of Celtic performers on the Llano Estacado and produces interactive shows to promote the awareness of the Celtic heritage and culture in West Texas.






Last Updated: 10/15/2007