Scotch Legs - Scottish step dance performance and tuition

Scottish step dance performance & tuition

Welcome

Welcome to my website. Scotch Legs (a.k.a. step dancer Joy Fraser) offers performances and tuition in Scottish step dance. I am currently based in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Please follow the links above to find out more about my performances, classes, workshops and other events. You can also visit Scotch Legs on MySpace and on Facebook.

What is Scottish step dance?

Scottish step dance is a traditional form of hard-shoe percussive dance, usually danced to tunes in strathspey, reel and jig time. The dancer beats out the rhythms of the music with his or her feet, using movements such as stepping, brushing, hopping and tapping. All of these movements are carried out with the feet kept close to the floor and the arms hanging loosely by the sides. Scottish step dance is often performed solo, but sometimes the steps are incorporated into set dances for more than one dancer.

About me

I learned to step dance with Alison MacLeod and Amy Geddes at the Scots Music Group in Edinburgh, going on to complete advanced training at the Sabhal Mòr Ostaig summer school, the Fèis Rois Inbhich in Ullapool and the annual Strathspé Away dance festival organised by Scottish step dance ensemble Dannsa. I have learned from such teachers as Frank McConnell, Caroline Reagh and Sandra Robertson of Dannsa; John Sikorski; Donal Brown; and Cape Breton dancer Harvey Beaton. A member of the Inverkeithing Step Dancers since 2004, I have performed throughout the UK.

Since 2006 I have been based in St. John's, Newfoundland, where I am studying for a PhD in Folklore at Memorial University. I dance regularly at sessions and other events in and around the city, including recent appearances at the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention 2008 (NAFCo) and at SummerDance 2008, with fiddler Evelyn Osborne. At NAFCo I was also invited to lead a beginners' step dance workshop. When not dancing Scottish style, I enjoy learning French Canadian step dance with Gillian Fisher at Jill Dreaddy DanceCo.

Contact

If you would like any further information about my performances, classes, workshops or other events, please don’t hesitate to contact me.