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Issue (Archive) From July 4 - 8, 2007 Saint John will be shaking the tartans to the skirl of the bagpipes as once again they will host the ScotDance Canada Championship Series.
Highland by the Sea Dance Festival is the World’s Largest Highland Dancing Competition. These competitions have taken place in various cities across Canada since 1978 and the festival is presented by the ScotDance Canada Championship Series and sponsored by ScotDance New Brunswick. Originally called The New Brunswick Highland Dance Association the name was changed to ScotDance New Brunswick in 2002. This group oversees all Highland Dance Competitions within the province and insures that all rules and regulations set down by ScotDance Canada, as well as, those of the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing are carried out correctly.
As this very old and venerable Society looks back over its more than 200 years existence, its members invite the public to reflect on what has been accomplished. A great deal has changed in society since the 1790’s but the St. Andrew’s Society of Saint John remains true to its founders’ lofty aims, even into the 21st century. Today, the Society still executes charitable acts but is also the representative of Scottish culture in Saint John. Looking ahead to its third century, the Saint Andrew’s Society of Saint John continues to adhere to its founding purposes in honour of the virtues and standards of its founders. Cia Mile Failte! |
Scottish Highland dancing is one of the oldest forms of folk dance, and both modern ballet and square dancing can trace their roots back to the Highlands. Originally these were highly athletic male celebration dances of triumph or joy along with warrior dances performed over swords and spiked shield. Although historically Highland dancing was restricted to men, today it is mostly performed by females but Highland dancers still require both athletic and artistic skill. The names of the dances reflect their original background - The Highland Fling; The Sword Dance; The Seann Triubhas (Gaelic meaning old trousers); Flora McDonald’s Fancy; the Sailors Hornpipe; The Irish Jig and the Scottish Lilt. 
In Saint John, the Scottish connection is maintained by The Saint Andrew’s Society which was founded in this City in March 1798, therefore, making it one of Canada’s earliest Scottish Associations. It began as a meeting place for Scots, and their descendants, in Saint John and was established to promote ‘cultural longevity’ and to act as a defender and protector of Scottish culture in the City both for their mutual benefit and for the benefit of the City’s greater Scottish community. In addition, in an era before personal insurance and state social assistance, a group of Scottish ex-patriots and their descendants formed a benevolent association charged with aiding the Scottish community of their city. The financial aid and assistance to those less fortunate by the Society was significant in its early years. No less significant is the generosity and philanthropy of individual members since that time. |
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