The Northern Ontario School of Scottish Dance has started their Spring Fling session.
The Scottish Dance group is offering an introduction to Scottish Highland Dancing.
The Northern Ontario School of Scottish Dance, also known as the Dalriada Scottish Dancers, is instructed by Marnie Ferguson-Lapierre who has always been surrounded by Scottish culture.
“It was inevitable,” said Ferguson-Lapierre. “My father was a piper in southern Ontario who also had learned to Highland Dance when he was a member of the 48th Highlanders. I came along and at five started taking serious lessons at RCL Branch 33 in New Liskeard with other girls in the community as part of the pipe band.”
Ferguson-Lapierre had begun her teaching career in the mid 1980’s with the Haileybury Caledonia Highland Dancers.
“The senior dancers took competitive weekly lessons in North Bay from Colleen Porter and brought our knowledge back to the weekly lessons and shared it with beginner dancers. We weren't certified, and did this more to keep the traditional dances alive in the community,” said Ferguson-Lapierre.
In 1997, the Dalriada Dancers were formed and have been performing in the community as well as competing within the province.
“It was when I had my own children, after a few years away. I realized that I wanted to teach again, but this time become certified so that I could offer competitive and medal testing level classes,” said Ferguson-Lapierre. “So I trained for my certification with the British Association of Teachers of Dance, which is under the umbrella of the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing, and that enabled me to be part of ScotDance Canada so that our local highland dancers can compete in registered competitions.”
The Spring Fling commences March 23 until April 27.
Ferguson-Lapierre advises that no previous experience is necessary, “We will be learning the basic head, feet and arm positions, all developing into learning the Highland Fling,” said Ferguson-Lapierre. “It is a great cardiovascular and musculature exercise and we have a lot of fun in class”
The fee for the six week course is 65$ and participants will receive a t-shirt after completing the introductory course. “One of the fun things about this short session is that it has a ‘try it out’ format,” said Ferguson-Lapierre. “Before committing to a full 10 week session in the autumn, a dancer and their family can get a sense of what will be expected with little cost or time committed. And we encourage groups of friends to participate!”
For further information on the Spring Fling session, Northern Ontario School of Scottish Dance can be contacted by email, [email protected] or by telephone (705) 268-4295.
