Kiltie Dancers Perform with Prominent Celtic Musician
Three members of the Alma College Kiltie Dancers will join prominent Celtic musician Alasdair Fraser onstage in East Lansing at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lansing on Feb. 10th at 8 p.m.
Alma’s highland dancers will perform a special choreography designed by the choreography committee of FUSTA, the National Highland Dance organization. The Alien Ceilidh Choreography, which combines highland and national dance techniques, was designed to allow dancers from across the nation to perform with famous Celtic musicians as they tour the United States.
The program was introduced to promote highland dancing in the United States by bringing attention to the art.
Alma College's Kiltie Dancers
The Alien Ceilidh dance was choreographed by FUSTA members Trisha MacConnell ‘07 and Kate DeGood ‘07, both former Alma College Kiltie Dancers. DeGood is director of the Alma College Highland Dance program and organizer of the East Lansing performance.
“We learned this national dance not only to perform with Alasdair but also to bring up participation in highland dance,” says Chelsea sophomore Amanda Craig. “These dances have a lot of history; each one has a story behind it. It’s a great opportunity to dance in Alasdair’s show; he’s really a very famous musician.”
Not only is it a great honor to dance with Fraser, but it’s also an honor to represent highland dance from Alma, says Farmington senior Maria Taylor.
“We’re bringing attention not just to highland dance, but to Alma specifically,” says Taylor. “Highland dance is an integral part of Alma’s Scottish heritage. To be able to represent and promote that legacy on a national venue is a huge honor.”
The series of national performances by various dance groups with nationally touring musicians is part of FUSTA’s new “Discover Scottish Dance” campaign to champion the conservation and celebration of this traditional art form.
Visit http://www.discoverscottishdance.com for more information about Highland Dance performances and classes.
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Posted: Wed, February 8th, 2012 at 4:13PM
