Irish Music, Language, and Dance Workshops - Saturday 25 Oct 2014

As part of their Regional annual general meeting, the Ottawa Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann (CCE) is offering workshops in Irish set dancing, Irish language, and Irish instruments to the general public. No experience is necessary! The workshops are also highly subsidized, being only $15 for non-members ($10 for members) for approximately an hour and a half of instruction (and two hours for set dancing). All workshops are at Blessed Sacrament Church, 194 Fourth Ave, in the Glebe. Street parking. Enter from Fourth Ave, basement/hall door.

What is on offer?

Irish Set Dancing - in short, Irish square dancing, with great Irish music! A 'set' is comprised of 8 people, 4 couples, arranged in a square. Each dance has a set sequence of moves and positions. At this stage of learning, not much attention is paid to the footwork. Instructor: Maureen Mulvey, well known in Canada for her set dancing instruction, coming in from Hamilton. Saturday 10:00 am

Irish Language - if you are curious about the fascinating ancient language of Irish Gaelic, this is the place for you. Join Tomas O'Murchu, a Ireland Canada University Foundation (ICUF) Scholar and teacher of Irish Gaelic (what the Irish simply call "Irish"!). Saturday 10:30 am.

Bodhran (bor'-ann) - a lot of people own bodhran's. Not many can play it very well! How to play this Irish drum with the silent 'dh' ? Join Steafan Hannigan, a world renown bodhran player (and multi-instrumentalist). In fact, Steafan has worked with many top artists including Bjork, Depeche Mode, Uriah Heep, Loreena McKennitt, and Michael Flatley, and many more! Due to scheduling issues he's had to turn down gigs from Page and Plant, Tory Amos (wedding), Mary Chapin Carpenter, Dave Stuart, and U2! Check him out for yourself, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6sAdROkXc0 . He is also the author of the Bodhran Book (available at many music stores and on Amazon.ca). Only $15 for non-members! WOW! (if you don't already own a drum, there will be some spares available). Saturday 3:00 pm.

Uilleann Pipes (ill'-in) - the sweetest sounding and most tonally expressive 'bagpipes' of the entire world of bagpipes. An Ireland-invented instrument. It is highly likely that you don't have a set of these kicking around in your closet unless you've already got the bug. Still, you could attend the workshop to learn about the instrument and what you would need to commit to if interested in this most difficult of instruments to play. If you do play, why not come along and join in the workshop? Again, the instructor is master Steafan Hannigan, a wonderfully patient and supportive teacher. If you can't bring pipes, I'm sure Steafan will let you have a go. Saturday 1:30 pm.

Irish Singing - Ottawa's own Dr. Ellen MacIsaac is offering a workshop on singing in both the English and Irish-language traditions. The workshop will focus on repertoire, ornaments and on voice production. Ellen lectures at the University of Ottawa in the Modern Languages department, and directs the Ottawa Celtic Choir. This is going to be a lot of fun. Saturday 1:30 pm.

For more details, please visit the CCE blog: Click this Link for information.