The Celtic (pronounced Keltic) Heritage Program at the Games begins on both Saturday and Sunday at 10:00 A.M. This Program includes entertainment and a chance to join in the numerous events including the Scottish Country Dancing.
As it has for 25 years, dancing, singing, harping and fiddling continue on the Celtic Heritage Area stages, located behind the main Grandstand, and conclude at approximately 4:00 P.M., in time for you to get to the closing ceremonies.
25th. Annual Scottish Country Dancing Adjudication
Approximately 15 dance groups will perform three dances before adjudicators Irene Paterson and Don MacQueen. Both Irene and Don are Scottish Country Dance teachers.Irene is originally from Glen Morangie country, in the north of Scotland, but now lives in the Pacific North West. Don has been a Scottish Country Dancer since 1980, including many years as a demonstration team member, and now teaches Scottish Country Dance in the Bay Area.
Dancing Performances
On Saturday, the Ron Wallace Dancers, the Lafayette Youth Dancers, the Red Thistle Dancers, and Caper Duck will perform on the St. Andrews Stage. The Ron Wallace Dancers will also perform on the Jordanhill Stage
On Sunday, the Livermore Young Adult and Stepping Out will perform on the St. Andrews Stage. The New World Scottish Dancers will also perform on the Jordanhill Stage
On both days, open dance performance will be provided by dancers of various classes
On both days, after watching a demonstration, the audience may be asked to join in the dancing - instruction supplied
The Fiddle
Be prepared for musical fireworks as Scottish Fiddle master Alasdair Fraser leads 50 or more fiddlers playing in concert 3 times on the Sunday of the Games. The fiddlers are not only from several local groups which play throughout the Bay Area, but also from far and wide, as many will have just spent a week in the Santa Cruz Mountains at Alasdair's Valley of the Moon Fiddling School in the Santa Cruz mountains in the week leading up to the Games. In fact, there is no fiddling on the Saturday of the Games as that is the last day of the camp.
The Harp
Become acquainted with the quiet sounds of the Highlands and Islands, the western waves lapping pebbled shores, the smell of peat fires in the homes, through the magic music of the Celtic harp.
Meet Verlene Schermer and the other members of the Harpers Hall who will happily answer all your questions about this traditional instrument and how you can become learn to play it.
Singing
Provides a delightful change of pace from the dancing.
We welcome back John Kelly, who sings Celtic ballads to his own accompaniment on the guitar. John is Welsh and has performed extensively throughout the British Isles and Europe.
Also returning to the Celtic Heritage stage is Kirsty Fitch, who sings Gaelic songs, including Puirt-a-Beul (Gaelic mouth music). Kirsty dresses in the style of the Highlands and Islands crofter women of a century ago.
For more information on Scottish Country dancing:-
