Kristy Van Hoven 466 County Road B2 West Roseville, MN, 55113 Phone: 651-246-1924 mscdamembers@yahoo.com www.mscda.com Work Samples Video: The Cakewalk (video, higher bandwidth, DSL, T1) The Cakewalk (video, lower bandwidth, 56K) Flora MacDonald's Fancy (video, higher bandwidth) Flora MacDonald's Fancy (video, lower bandwidth) To view the work samples, Windows Media Player is required. If you do not have it installed, you can download it for free here: Download Windows Media Player

Minnesota Scottish Celtic Dance Association Scottish Highland dance Highland dancing has evolved from nearly a thousand years of traditional dancing in the Scottish Highlands and Islands. For 30 years, Minnesota Scottish Celtic Dance Association has been presenting this ancient art to Minnesota audiences. Performances feature many of these centuries-old dances, such as the Highland Fling, Sword Dance, Strathspeys and Reels, Highland Laddie, and Flora MacDonald's Fancy, as well as original choreographies. Wearing the philabeg kilt and the Aboyne dress, our dancers provide an exciting, entertaining and informative program, which can include a brief history of the dances, costumes and culture of the Scottish Highlands. The dancers compete throughout the United States, Canada and Scotland, and have won many awards in local and regional competitions, and at national and world championships. Available: Evenings and weekends, September-May; anytime, June-August; generally limited to the Twin Cities metro area, but other times and locations are frequently negotiable Space: A minimum of 12 by 16 ft. is desired; some flexibility with space is possible. A larger area allows greater variety in dances. Raised platforms should be level and sturdy. Fee: Negotiable

Additional Information:
The Minnesota Scottish Celtic Dance Association is dedicated to the art of traditional Scottish Highland dancing.

Highland dancing is a competitive art form that emerged from the diverse dance traditions of the Scottish Highlands and Islands. Some highland dances have very old roots, such as the sword dance, which originated in the 1100s. Most were developed as the clan system emerged in Scotland. Some courtly forms that are now part of Highland dance were influenced by French styles.

In more recent years, new dances have been choreographed that draw on older styles, but are presented in new combinations and formats. While Highland dancing was once limited exclusively to male dancers, most present-day dancers are female. Today, certified Highland dance groups throughout the world compete regularly in regional, national, and world events. At these competitions, dancers are judged on the accuracy, skill, and artistry of their performances. An official board based in Scotland sets the standards for each dance, but individual groups and dancers choose the specific combinations of traditional steps that they will use for each performance.

Florence Hart, a dancer and teacher from Scotland, founded the Minnesota Scottish Celtic Dance Association in early 1965. The group is the only local Highland dance organization, and includes around fifty dancers. It has been involved in competitions for over 30 years, and hosts two competitions each year; participates in regional, national, and world championships; and performs at many public and private events in Minnesota.

The Association is willing to accommodate many kinds of performance settings. While they often perform to recorded music, they will help sponsoring venues to hire a piper if live accompaniment is desired.