In an exciting new project Badenoch and Strathspey play host to step dancers and musicians from Cape Breton Island, Canada. They join Kingussie based traditional dance group in delivering an intensive heritage programme to all of the Badenoch and Strathspey primary schools.

The idea for the project came about when Dannsa visited Nova Scotia last summer and were inspired by the excitement of the dance scene there. Combined with their own enthusiasm for step dancing and a great interest from the primary schools here, Dannsa were determined to find a way everyone could work together. So from the end of November for three weeks there will be over 200 people in  Badenoch and Strathspey dancing, playing, singing, laughing, and sharing our great music and dance heritage.

‘We are all delighted to be working together and feel this is a great continuation of our links with Cape Breton and we know it will inspire more opportunities in the future" says Sandra Robertson from Dannsa.

The dancers and musicians from Cape Breton are Dawn and Margie Beaton, Helen MacDonald, Mitchell MacDonald and Cheryl MacQuarrie. They have all been playing and dancing from a young age and teach and perform widely throughout Cape Breton Island, Canada, Scotland and Ireland.

From Dannsa are Frank McConnell, Fin Moore, Caroline Reagh and Sandra Robertson, fiddler Gabe McVarish, guitarist Ewan MacPherson and singer Gille Bride MacIllemhaoil.

For a week they will be busy rehearsing in Talla Nan Ros, Kingussie before  visiting the primary schools for two weeks. This culminates in a performance and ceilidh dance in the Badenoch Centre on December 14 at 6.30pm.

Tickets on the door.

"The schools work is a chance for us all to explore and bring to life the history and current lives of people who emigrated from Scotland to Cape Breton through dance, music, gaelic song and language" says Caroline Reagh.

"It’s just so exciting, it’s great to be here in Scotland, I can’t wait to meet the children and I would love for this  project to happen in Cape Breton" adds Cheryl MacQuarrie.

Not only will the primary schools have fun, parents have been invited to take part and there are workshops in  Kingussie High School. Don’t miss the performance on December 14.  Everyone welcome.

Dannsa gratefully acknowledge funding for this project from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Scottish Arts Council, Cairngorm Leader+, Highland 2007 and VABS/HIE and East Highland Enterprise

For further information tel: 07780925663 (m)