John McDermott (Canadian) - Young Talent Showcase

[progressiverebel]

I never grew up dancing...my people came to America in the 1700. It's only when I looked into the line, did I find that we descend from all the Kings of Scotland, Robert the Bruce, Malcom Bruce/Williams father. The last Scot to come to the new world was Alexander Grant who had fought with the Glengaries at Culloden. I wonder did Alexander dance?

[McKissackMusic]

Quit complaining and just enjoy or leave!

[trbflinginaway]

the second group (the scottish dance company of canada) includes colleen rintamaki, the lead dancer at 5:50, who was a world champion scottish highland dancer. they used elements of the strathspey and highland reel, sword dance, and ground cutting from the hornpipe.

yes, the first part is ottowa valley stepdance.

[Ahipararox]

this is awesome!!

[Angus01ful]

This type of stepdance is much different to the Nova Scotia Cape Breton style of stepdancing...This is more like clogging ...In Nova Scotia your hands are kept to your side and your steps are kept close to the floor as it was taken from Scotland many years ago . however I enjoyed the dance in this video also. :)

[dancinst]

This not Scottish style Step Dance ~ not even close! This is Ottawa Valley style Step Dance ~ which had ties with Clogging, and NO ties with Scotland at all.

This IS NOT a Scottish Dance troupe in this video at all.

In Scottish and Cape Breton styles, we do not raise one or both arms ~ we keep them down at our sides but let them swing slightly with the rhythm (so we don't look stiff).

[macrosent]

If you read my description of the video in the right column, you would've seen that I made reference to each act in this set. I also inserted comment blocks into each part of the video, showing which group was performing at the time, per the liner notes of the DVD. Chanda Gibson and Pulse DO dance Ottawa Valley style. They are FOLLOWED by the Scottish Dance Company of Canada, who I must presume dance in Scottish style.

[dancinst]

My comments weren't directed at yours ~ they were directed at the person below who stated that step dancers (generalizing) move their arms wherever. Each style of Step Dance has it's own style of arms. The Scottish Dance here is called Highland Dance ~ it is a separate style from step dancing completely.

[macrosent]

Hey, no worries. While I enjoy most of their art or craft, methinks most performers (including the one I married) are too high-strung and take themselves waaay too seriously. They work themselves into a tizzy over the most trivial of matters. I think they should just lighten-up and have fun doing what they do...entertain.

[dancinst]

haha ~ quite obvious you are not a performer~! A job's a job :)

[progressiverebel]

@dancinst Not being knowledgable about dancing.... I remember the movie Tunes Of Glory.... Where the new regimental commander got into a big arguement about the raising of ones hands over the head...I suspect based on the movie... that some uncouth Scots do raise their hands over their heads....

[JAKWIK]

FANTASTIC

[Nicoleclog]

I never get tired of watchng this video!

It is fantastic !

[tikinmeoff]

Check out Carly Kennedy singing the climb

[ewelmcc]

arms by the side ? well done though cheers

[macrosent]

Although I am not a dancer by any stretch, I am told that Irish-based folk dancers (Riverdance, step-dance, etc) do keep their arms at their sides, whilst Scottish folk dancers typically raise one or both arms during all or part of their routine. New World dance troupes can stick to one style or the other, or incorporate both. You will notice the members of the Scottish dance troupe in this video DO raise their arms. Thank you for your comment.

[StEPdANcER77]

yeah... in step dancing you don't keep your arms to the side, it's okay to move them wherever!

[macrosent]

Hey, a ship-load of thanks for the clarification! Keep steppin' lively!

[polyaty]

awsome well done

[bigteep]

Thanks for posting. I could watch this over and over again.

[blacknight19853]

feels great to be an east coaster god bless canada :)

[kate285]

wonderful, thankyou for sharing.

[susanmudgee]

Fabulous.

Thanks so much for posting this.

[macrosent]

Once again, thank YOU, mate!

[carcaril]

Simply beautiful! :-)

[macrosent]

I am most pleased you liked it.

[macrosent]

You are most welcome.