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ABOUT THE SCOTTISH DANCE COMPANY OF CANADA
The Scottish Dance Company of Canada is a professional
highland dance company which was founded in 1996 and is based in
Toronto, Ontario, Our dancers include past and present Ontario,
Canadian, North American and World Champions and all come from diverse
dance backgrounds.
The Company was established by Sandra Bald Jones, Joyce Kite and
the late Gladys Forrester with the goal of providing elite performance
opportunities for accomplished highland dancers. Since 1996, there
has been an impressive array of dancers who have performed on Canada’s
best stages with top Celtic musicians. The Scottish Dance Company
performs regularly in the Greater Toronto Area and throughout southern
Ontario.
Dancers who are interested in becoming a member of The Scottish
Dance Company of Canada are invited to attend an annual audition.
Dancers must demonstrate very strong highland technique and exemplary
performance skills. Training in other dance forms and performance
experience is an asset. The Company rehearses weekly in Toronto
and/or Hamilton and currently has twenty members who live in the
Golden Horseshoe. In the 2004-05 season, there are dancers from
across Canada, including Nova Scotia, Sault Ste, Marie, and British
Columbia.
The Scottish Dance Company creates and choreographs dances which
are based on highland technique, but also incorporate aspects of
ballet, modern, and step dance. Inspiration comes from a wide array
of traditional and modern Scottish and celtic music. The Company
maintains a wide repertoire of dances and continually develops new
pieces on an ongoing basis.
The Directors of the Company are Sandra Bald Jones
and Joyce Kite and the Artistic Director is Shelagh O’Brien.
PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS
The Scottish Dance Company of Canada has
performed throughout North America since its inception in 1996.
Performances and appearances have included:
HRH Prince Charles visit
to Copp’s Colliseum, Hamilton, ON
“Festival By the Sea,” Saint Johns, New Brunswick
“Celtic Christmas”, Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto, ON
“Barra MacNeils Christmas”, Massey Hall, Toronto, ON
“Fire and Grace”, Celtic Dance Theatre of Arizona
“Immrama”, Hamilton Place, and CentrePointe Theatre,
Ottawa, ON
“Needfire”, Royal Alexandra Theatre, and Princess of
Wales Theatre, Toronto, ON
“John MacDermott Burns Celebrations”, Roy Thomson Hall,
Toronto, ON
Governor General’s Awards, National Arts Centre, Ottawa, ON
Toronto Raptors Opening Game Celebrations, Air Canada Centre, Toronto,
ON
“Milk Children’s Festival,” Habourfront, Toronto,
ON
“A Time to Remember”, John MacDermott PBS Television
Special
“Mother’s Day Telethon”, CHCH Television, Hamilton,
ON
“Easter Seals Telethon”, CBC Television, Toronto, ON
“Breakfast Television”, CITY TV, Toronto, ON
Opening Ceremonies, ScotDance Canada Championship Series, St Catharines,
ON; Winnipeg, MB
Edinburgh Military Tattoo, in celebration of Queen Elizabeth’s
Golden Jubilee, Edinburgh, SCOTLAND
“Christmas Celebration with Rob Crabtree & Friends”,
River Run Theatre, Guelph, ON
"ScotDance Ontario Gala Celebration", Toronto, ON
"Canada Day Celebrations on Parliament Hill", with Mary Jane Lamond and The MudMen, Ottawa, ON
The Scottish Dance Company have performed with Canada’s top
celtic musicians including:
| Great Big Sea |
Richard Wood |
| Leahy |
Mary Jane Lamond |
| Natalie McMaster |
Barra MacNeils |
| John MacDermott |
Irish Descendents |
| Sandy McIntyre |
Toronto Police Pipe Band |
| Campbell Brothers |
Scantilly Plaid |
| Rob Crabtree & Friends |
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And have appeared before most notable audiences including:
HM Queen Elizabeth
HRH Prince Charles
The Right Honourable Jean Chretien, Prime Minister
The Governor General of Canada
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