Cape Breton Step ( Cape Breton Step ) - a kind of Scottish dance in hard shoes. However, judging by the name, this type of dance is most directly related to the island of Cape Breton , which is located in Canada. Why then is it a Scottish dance form? In the XIIX-XIX centuries, under the influence of economic turmoil, English repression or simply in search of a better life, many residents of northern Scotland and the Hebrides emigrated to Canada. The descendants of the settlers managed to preserve their gel traditions and, in particular, the dance culture. In Scotland, where traditions were long and successfully suppressed by the British authorities, the steppe dance was almost lost [1] [2] .
Content
Cape Breton Steps Fundamentals
Cape Breton Step has similarities with the Irish Step, especially with its old style ( Irl. - sean nós ). The main differences are in the musical accompaniment. Like the old Irish style, the cape breton steppe uses regular shoes with leather soles. The style of performance of the cape-breton step is called “Close to the floor” - all movements of the legs are made close to the ground, high sweeping movements of the legs are not considered an indicator of the dancer's skill [3] .
Musical accompaniment
The main musical instrument used for dancing and dancing the Cape Breton Step is the violin, but using a special style inherited from the manner of playing in the northern part of Scotland. All other instruments: banjo, piano or accordion have a secondary role in musical accompaniment [4] . The famous Canadian musician Sandy MacIntyre spoke of this style of play:
“When we play the violin, we automatically think about the dance. For example, for strasspei we use a more even and smooth rhythm, unlike modern Scotland violinists, who play at a much more rigorous, explicit and hard pace. The Canadian style of playing the violin is a huge driving force that raises dancers to their feet and makes dance even for those who hear it for the first time. We maintain the rhythm of music by repelling kicks ... using different kicks depending on the tempo ” [5] .
Modernity
In the "big world", the Cape Breton step became known under the influence of a revival of interest in Gaelic Scottish culture, music and, of course, dancing. The characteristic manner of playing the violin, the original step for strassey, rilovye or jig compositions - all this sends us to the island culture of the northern part of Scotland. Nowadays, in Scotland, older people remembered and knew the steppe steps that they had learned from their parents in childhood. However, they prefer to remain silent about their knowledge, their “old” dances, as it seemed, did not fit into the harmonious picture of “right dances”. One of the most significant cases occurred in Scotland with a young woman champion in various Highland competitions. When she wrote her dissertation on the history of Scottish dances, her research also dealt with the Cape Breton Step. What was her amazement when it turned out that her own mother (who was already over 70 years old) knows and can fulfill her own set of step steps! An elderly woman learned them as a child, but never even mentioned her skill until she accidentally saw a video recording of the Cape Breton Step. She was afraid that her daughter, who was taught to dance “correctly”, would ridicule her “wrong” village dances. The inhabitants of Cape Breton, for whom the tradition of steppe dance has not been interrupted, claim that their dances are not competitive and they can be danced anywhere you like in the pub and in the kitchen with friends. The main thing is to dance for your own pleasure and share this pleasure with your friends.
Notes
- ↑ Dance Nova Scotia, ed. "Just Four on the Floor, A Guide to Teaching Traditional Cape Breton Square Sets for Public Schools," 1992
- ↑ Flett, JP and TM Flett. “Traditional Dancing in Scotland.” London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1964
- ↑ Brown, Richard. “A History of Cape Breton Island.” Belleville, Ontario: Mika Publishing Co., 1979
- ↑ Hunter, James. “The Fiddle Music of Scotland Edinburgh.” TA Constable Ltd., 1979
- ↑ Sandy MacIntyre