John McDermott (Canadian) - Young Talent Showcase

Your ratings and comments are welcome! Video from John McDermott's live DVD "A Time to Remember" (2002). In addition to John's support of veteran's charities, he also promotes young talent. This video features a quick introduction of the Cottars, a step dance routine by Chanda Gibson and Pulse, and a traditional Highland dance demonstration by the Scottish Dance Company of Canada. The closing number is John singing his own unique version of Scotland the Brave while the two dance groups perform an extremely well choreographed routine.

"JOHN CHARLES McDERMOTT is a Canadian tenor best known for his rendition of "Danny Boy." Born the ninth of twelve children to Irish parents in Glasgow Scotland in 1955, John and his family moved to Canada in 1965. Growing up in a musical family, his only formal musical training was at St. Michael's Choir School in Toronto, Ontario in 1971 and 1972."

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Celtic
• Irish
• Canadian
• Scottish
• Highland-Dance
• Step-Dance
• Folk
• Bagpipes
• macrosent

[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.

[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?

[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....

[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]

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