This dance festival enjoyed a highly successful launch last year,  with about eighty people coming from as far as away as Barra and Bristol! This year promises to be even better with even more first-class tuition, concerts and ceilidhs taking place from 12-14 November at Kingussie.

The festival opens with a ceilidh to the high-spirited music and song of the Incredible Fling Band who come from the Kyle of Lochalsh area in the North West Highlands......what better to kick off the weekend!

Tuition on  Saturday and Sunday is available in  Country dancing, Ceilidh dancing, Basic dance moves,  Irish set dancing, Hip Hop, Highland dancing, Step dancing, and, for the first time ever Dannsa Quadrilles. These quadrilles are new and have been created by Frank McConnell of Dannsa.

This year as well as dancing, classes are offered in Puirt-a-beul(mouth music), Fiddle and  Mouth-organ tunes.

The line-up of tutors is just as outstanding, with many coming back for a second year: Allan Irvine, Allan MacDonald, Caroline Reagh,  Frank McConnell, Gabe MacVarish, Ian Hardie,  Jim Barry, Johan MacLean, Karen Steven, Mary Ann Kennedy, and Mats Melin.     
  
The late afternoon session on Saturday gives the more enthusiastic participant a chance to catch their breath with a Lecture by Allan MacDonald(Glenuig) or sessions in Puirt-a-beul(mouth music) and Waulking songs on offer.    

Dannsa performance on the Saturday night is sure to delight the audience with their unique performance style of uplifting percussive footwork and their natural vibrant energy as well as a chance for any toe-tappers to take part!

Lunchtime performances are by Amh on Saturday and Ian Hardie(with Caroline Reagh) on Sunday.  Amh are Iseabail Mactaggart and Andrew Robertson. Singing traditional Gaelic songs, they have developed a style that, whilst modern and unique, respects the true essence of these songs. They've been called the future of Gaelic singing. Ian Hardie's 'Highlands of Nairnshire'  was composed four years ago on commission by the Highland Festival to  represent Nairnshire at their millennium concert in Eden court, Inverness. The music was written for fiddle and for this festival Caroline Reagh has created dance to complement the music.

Sunday offers more classes as before. One highlight of the classes is the presence of live music. All the dance classes will  be accompanied by live music from  Allan MacDonald, Fin Moore, Gabe MacVarish, Ian Hardie,  Karen Steven, Mary Ann Kennedy, and Pat Clark.    As dancers themselves they are able to give a unique insight into the dynamics between the music, Gaelic song and language and dance.

The inter-relationship of dance and the arts, a theme running through the weekend, is also evident at the art exhibition.  The Society of Badenoch and Strathspey Artists have generously contributed to the art exhibition specific to the weekend entitled 'Cearcal'.

The weekend winds up with the FINAL HO-RO GHEALLAIDH where you can put a new date in you diary: 11-13 November 2005!               

The festival is open to everyone 14 years and over. with events from lunchtime and some afternoon classes open to under 14's. It is open to those who may be selective in what they attend.  The festival is not an 'all-or-nothing' situation, why not regard it as a reason to come to Kingussie in the Central Highlands?
                                      
"....it was ten times better than just a "really good weekend" ; it was one of the best times I'd ever had in my life.  The music and dance were just outstanding. ", Joyce Cochrane.

Further information is available from Sandra Robertson on 01540-661594 or sandra@dannsa.com