THE DUNCAN STUDIO OF CELTIC DANCING

Highland dancing is best known for its traditional dance routines such as the Sword Dance and the Highland Fling.  All studio dancers are formally trained in the traditional methods of Highland dance technique in which they compete and grade and they can all perform the full range of traditional solo and team dances.  The dancers are also encouraged to test their creative flair in choreographing special exhibition items of a more contemporary nature and attire and this often provides an interesting deviation from the swirl of the traditional kilted performance!  In recent months the Highland dance troupe has performed for corporate functions at Sun City, the Kyalami Castle for the launch of the Bank of Scotland in South Africa and for the Scotland/South African Rugby game at Ellis Park.  Dancers of the studio have also represented SA as part of the team that performed daily at the Edinburgh Military in August 2006 and 2007 and the Basel Tattoo in Switzerland in 2008.  The Duncan Studio Highland dancers also participated in the South African International Military Tattoo at Monte Casino in September 2008 & 2009.

Irish dancing has enjoyed a magical revival since the exciting international appearances of Riverdance and Lord of the Dance. The Duncan Studio Dancers bring this exhilarating dance form to life in a series of specially choreographed performances.  These lovely young dancers have delighted audiences around South Africa and have performed at The Jacaranda Pops and The Last Night of the Proms with the Johannesburg Festival Orchestra as well as for companies such as Vodacom, The Altron Group, Rand Merchant Bank, Sappi, Deloitte & Touché, TSB Sugar, Cadbury’s and ABSA Bank to name but a few.   Select members of the troupe have also performed in Zambia, Botswana and Mauritius and by special invitation have been requested to perform in Zambia & Zimbabwe for Virgin Atlantic airlines.  In April 2007 eight of the studio dancers represented South Africa at the Irish Dancing World Championships both in solo and ceili competitions, having been selected by overseas adjudicators at our 2006 SA Championships, and this was the very first time that South Africa competed at this level.  Dancers competed successfully at The All Irelands Championships in Killarney in 2010 and 2011 proudly making history with many of them being awarded medals for recalls in their dances.  The studio is also proud to have the first two SA dancers chosen for an overall section recall and subsequently placed in the top 10 of their respective age groups.   A further group of studio dancers competed at the World Championship in April, again with two dancers recalling and being placed, one of whom was placed 8^th overall out of 48 competitors in his age group.  Another first for South Africa!

The dancers are trained by Sue Theron of the Duncan Studio of Celtic Dancing which she established in 1988.  Sue has been involved with Celtic Dancing for the past 30 years.  She has served as a member of the Official Board of Highland Dancing (SA) and is also the founder member and past Chairman & Liaison Officer of the Irish Dance (South Africa) which she established in 1998.  Sue’s professional dance qualifications include Member Scottish Dance Teachers’ Alliance, Scotland and TCRG An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha, Ireland.

DUNCAN STUDIO OF CELTIC DANCE

It’s been a hectic and challenging start to the year. Also hard to believe that we are already well into 2011 and that this is only the second newsletter of the year!

Recent Ireland trip.
As you know a group of 12 Studio dancers travelled to compete in Ireland in February. Megan did communicate the good news but for those who missed it, we are all immensely proud of Kristin Hattingh, Reze-Tiana Wessels, Kate Hurley, Nicola Moore, Taryn-Lee Harris, Andrea van der Kuil, Catherine Came, Cara du Plessis, Jessica Perks, Neil Roberts, Jason du Plessis & Bernard van der Kuil all of whom returned home with medals from their performance at the Mid West Championships in Limerick. Further achievements from the All Irelands Championships itself: Reze-Tiana Wessles (soft shoe solo recall), Nicola Moore (hard & soft shoe solo recall), Neil Roberts (hard shoe solo recall), Jessica Perks (soft shoe solo recall), Jason du Plessis (overall section recall & placed 7th overall in championship) and Bernard van der Kuil (hard & soft shoe solo recall as well as overall section recall). These results were amazing and our dancers really put SA Irish dancing on the worldwide map by making history with all these “firsts” for South Africa (first recalls and first placings) at this international level.

Irish Dance Championships – Dublin.
On last Thursday, Sue left for Ireland again with a group of six studio dancers – Neil Roberts, Jason du Plessis, Melissa Smit, Cara du Plessis, Jonathan Barnes and Bernard van der Kuil – who will be competing at the World Championships in Dublin over the Easter week. We wish them all the very best of luck!

Classes in April.
Classes will continue as usual and will be taken by either Megan or Estelle for Irish and either Megan or Aynsley for Highland. Please communicate with Megan via sms (072-207-1946) or to my e-mail address should you not be able to attend for whatever reason.

The studio will close for the Easter week and that crazy week of public holidays – Friday, 22 April to Monday 2 May, both dates inclusive. Enjoy this short break as it will be the last of year with the exception of the first week in July when the studio will close to enable us all to take advantage of attending the workshops with overseas teachers.

July Workshop.
Forms have gone out on emails and we would like to encourage all dancers of all levels to attend. The advantages and motivation gained from attending is irreplaceable.

Forthcoming Competitions.
Please check our discussions board for a list of competition and championships steps.

Leeuwkop Feis is the one that our studio is responsible for convening so we will be expecting you all to participate and will also be looking for assistance from parents with respect to all the work involved in making it a successful day. We will be having an overseas adjudicator and other than SA Champs, it is the biggest feis of the year and so all offers of help will be gladly accepted!

Sue is also co-convening the Kimberley Feis and so we are hoping many of you will want to travel with other studio dancers to participate. The Kimberley and Bloemfontein dancers always appreciate and rely on our support to make these two competitions viable and worthwhile.

We wish you all a wonderful break and a happy Easter.

Megan

Duncan Studio.