Elizabeth MacDonald
About the Instructor
Elizabeth lives to dance – and to share that passion with others. Elizabeth specializes in traditional Irish social and old-style step dance. She's taught for many years in Halifax, Nova Scotia and, while living in Europe, led the Brussels Set Dancers for four years.
Elizabeth is a popular workshop leader and dance caller, having taught at festivals across Eastern Canada, northern France and Belgium, including Boxwood Festival, Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival, Danse Traditionelle Québec, the North Atlantic Tionól, ReJigged Festival, "Sets in Leuven," Belgium, and MAD Week in Washington, DC.
Elizabeth's favourite kind of student? Adults who've never danced before – or never thought they could. With her patient, light-hearted teaching style, you'll be stepping it out in no time.
Please note this workshop has been CANCELLED due to concerns about a high rate of covid in the community. If you would attend a winter Ceili, please express your interest below and we will be in touch if we’re able to host that event!:
See below for the fun we were planning!
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION
Discover the many styles of traditional Irish dance in this fun, half-day workshop. In this dance tour of Ireland, you'll sample a variety of styles, both social and solo, and be treated to plenty of stories along the way. From Donegal two-hand dances and Clare square sets to "sean-nós" -- an easy-to-learn, fun-to-do, old style of step dance -- you'll come away with an appreciation of Ireland's rich dance history, along with a good few moves and steps to show your friends.
No prior dance experience required, just a pair of comfortable, smooth-soled shoes and a sense of humour!
MORE INFO
This workshop will proceed in two parts to make sure everyone is welcomed into this fun experience! It is welcome, but not required to partake in both parts.
An Irish Family Ceili: 10:00-11:30am
Designed for ages 5-12, Elizabeth will introduce children to Irish culture through easy-to-learn social dances done in circles and lines, and done to different kinds of tunes; e.g. polkas, jigs, or reels. Several of the dances have enjoyable, easy clapping sequences, and footwork lessons.
Please ensure that children are accompanied by an adult, as the focus is on intergenerational fun (older siblings ~13+ are also welcomed to supervise youngsters).
Learn to Dance like the Irish: 1:30-3:30pm
Elizabeth will take participants through a sample from each social tradition: circle, line, two-hand, square and ceili, plus a few sean-nos steps at the end. It will include bits of dance history for context and videos to help the visual learners, and folks would come away with an overview of Irish dance.
Elizabeth is a very experienced teacher and will adjust the content and pace as need be depending on the group’s interests and abilities.
The recommended age bracket for this session is anyone aged 16 and above.
Instructions for purchase:
FAMILY CEILI: Each child costs $15 to attend, but if you’d like to register 2 children together, you may pay a lower rate of $10 each. To accomplish this, please add the youth rate store item below to your cart and insert the discount code “EXTRAKIDDIES” at checkout. This will only be valid when you register 2 or more children at once through the online store.
If you, the child’s parent or guardian, are registered in the afternoon session, you may register your child for free for the morning session (10 total free spots available). To accomplish this, please use the code “FREEKID” at checkout. It is valid for 1 child per 1 parent/guardian registrant.
ADULT SESSION: Each registrant costs $80 to attend, but if you register in a group of 3 or more (bought together in 1 store transaction), you may pay a special rate of $70 per person. To accomplish this, please add a quantity of 3 or more of the “Group Rate” store item to your cart and proceed through checkout.
We are a nonprofit and rely on your support to continue our programs. Thank you for closely following the above guidelines to ensure a fair price for all: you, Parrsboro Creative, and our instructor. Please call us at (902) 728-2007 if you have any questions.
LOCATION
The location of this course is at the Age of Sail Museum in Port Greville, NS.
Cancellation PolicyIf for any reason the participant wishes to cancel before two weeks prior to the commencement of the course, the full fee minus a 10% service fee will be refunded. Please note that there will be no refunds if the participant cancels within two weeks of the commencement of the course.
COVID- 19 Notice
We will be following the latest guidelines for social distancing and gathering restrictions as recommended by the province of Nova Scotia. Should this workshop be cancelled due to sudden changes in guidelines, we will refund participants the full amount of the workshop - guaranteed! Thanks for supporting local, cultural events at Parrsboro Creative!