Cape Breton Concert and Square Dance April 30, 2011

Everyone is invited to join the Cape Breton Club of Ottawa and the Ottawa Cape Breton Session for an evening of Celtic music in the tradition of Cape Breton Island. Cape Breton's Kimberley Fraser accompanied by Ottawa's Denis Lanctot will provide a concert of both Scottish traditional as well as more contemporary Cape Breton tunes and stepdancing. A Cape Breton square dance will follow the concert. Square set instruction will be provided from 7:15 - 8 PM for those interested in learning a typical Inverness County three-figure set, with both square and round dancing after the 8pm concert. This is a family event, with cash bar available (at mess prices!), the location is wheelchair accessible. Officer's Mess - RCMP Headquarters at 1200 Vanier Parkway. Highway 417 east or west to exit 117 Vanier Parkway. Left at first lights to guard hut, tell the guard you are attending an event at the mess, then proceed to the mess entrance on the east side of the building. To get there you have to drive all the way around the building to access the entrance which is just past the garage on the left and has a red awning over the door. There is plenty of parking in the lot across the roadway, parking rules are not enforced on weekends. OCTranspo: From Hurdman Station take Route 9 Downtown/Centreville to the Vanier/Coventry stop. 3-4 minute walk from there. Via Rail: If you are coming from out of town this location is within walking distance of the Ottawa Rail Central Station and Hampton Inn is right across the street.

As a limited number of tickets are available, getting tickets in advance is strongly recommended. More information and maps to the location can be found on the Ottawa Cape Breton Session website http://web.ripnet.com/~bmacgi/. Tickets can purchased at any OCBS Sunday session, from Brent MacDonald at 613-233-3047 or may be reserved by email at cbsession@ripnet.com.

Kimberley Fraser was born on Cape Breton Island, and nurtured within its rich musical heritage. She first began to impress audiences at the age of three with her step-dancing talents. Soon after that she took up both the fiddle and the piano. Though still in her 20s, Kimberley's already has a distinguished career. She has traveled the world, from Victoria to Afghanistan, performing at venues such as The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. bringing Cape Breton music with her wherever she goes. She has become one of the stellar players of the Cape Breton fiddle tradition, equally at home at a house party, playing for a square dance or on stage for a concert in Bras d'Or or Boston, Scotsville or Scotland." Kimberley has shared the stage with the finest acts in Celtic music, such as Alasdair Fraser, Martin Hayes and Lunasa. Kimberley is also in demand for her piano skills, accompanying musicians at home and abroad. Skilled at teaching fiddle, piano and step-dancing, Kimberley's ability to perform all three skills allows her students to learn the relationship between these different aspects of the music. Kimberley will be supported by a favourite local fiddler and pianist, Denis Lanctot.

Beth MacGillivray