Welcome to the 2014-2015 Dance Year

September typically marks the beginning of the Highland Dance season as dance lessons start back up and the annual registration for Saskatoon Highland Dancing Association takes place at the end of the month. Why join the Saskatoon High-land Dancing Association? Well the benefits and rewards are plenty. The organization has the primary responsibility to sup-port and promote the culture of highland dancing in Saskatoon through many avenues: competitions, ceilidhs, dance outs and folkfest. We raise money through hosting the Scottish Pavilion at Folkfest and with these funds we are able to support our dancers by putting on competitions and providing them with funds to attend various competitions worldwide or to purchase the necessary costumes that they wear for their dances. No matter the status of the dancer—each one is supported by the organization.

Below is a list of the SHDA Executive. If you have any questions or con-cerns feel free to contact one of these members by going on the SHDA website: www.shda.ca

2014 – 2015 SHDA Executive:

President: Vicki Streiloff Workshops: Christine Sauve

Vice-President: TBA Competitions: Heather Hollman

Past President: TBA Newsletter: MJ Sherven

Treasurer: Darlene Parsons Pavilion Manager: Nicole McIntyre

Secretary: Deanna Sitter-Danku Provincial Rep: Patti Fisher

SHDA September 2014

Dates to Remember in 2014

September 29th - SHDA Registration Night October 18— Battleford Competition October 25—SHDA 60th Anniversary Ceilidh Party at the German Club

November 8— Regina Competition

November 22— Saskatoon Competition

November 23— Saskatoon Workshop

December—Renew ScotDance cards-deadline

Greetings 1

FOLKFEST, FOLKFEST, FOLKFEST 2

Basic Info for Parents 3

60th Anniversary Ceilidh 4

Dance Outs 4

Contact Information 4

Inside this issue:

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Volume 2014, Issue 2

September 2014

Folkfest was a huge success as nearly 30,000 people passed through our venue in 3 days. The pa-

vilion was a ‘happening place’ with dancing, piping, singing, great food, unique beverages and the

constant vibe of Celtic celebration. Our pavilion is one of the most popular year after year and that is

largely due to the amazing volunteers who put in hours of preparation and time during the event. To

all of you who worked long and hard we want to say ~

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! We couldn’t

have done it without you.

Did you know …

That Folkfest is SHDA’s only ongoing fundraiser?

That we raise approximately $20,000—$25,000 per

year on this event?

That all the money raised goes back to our dancers? In

fact each member this year received a $200 bursary to

be used for dancing expenses. Remember to submit your receipts by September 30th.

That the money raised is used to put on competitions, workshops and to provide financial support for

dance related functions? Having competitions close to

home is a huge benefit as it allows the dancers to

have a

rich

com-

petitive career right here at home.

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FOLKFEST, FOLKFEST, FOLKFEST!!! Read all about it!

GU T H NA DA N NSA IRE A N V OIC E OF T HE D ANCE RS

Federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau

was a special guest at the Scottish Pavil-

ion this year. Here he is learning the

fling from some of our Premier dancers

before performing it live on stage.

Classification of Competitors:

1. Primary – Ages 4 years and under 7 years of age 4 dances – PDB’s, PDB’s & Highcuts, Fling,

Sword

2. Beginner – A competitor is classified Beginner until either winning 1st, 2

nd, or 3

rd place in SIX

different Beginner competitions OR until six months following the first Beginner stamp, whichever is

later. After this the competitor is classified as a Novice dancer and is no longer eligible to enter Be-

ginner events. 6 dances - Fling, Sword, Seann Truibhas, A Reel, Lilt, Flora

3. Novice - A competitor is classified Novicer until either winning 1st, 2

nd, or 3

rd place in SIX differ-

ent Novice competitions OR until six months following the first Novice stamp, whichever is later. Af-

ter this the competitor is classified as an Intermediate dancer and is no longer eligible to enter Nov-

ice events. 6 dances - Fling, Sword, Seann Truibhas, A Reel, Lilt, Flora

4. Intermediate – This status is held for one year from the date of the competitor’s first Intermedi-

ate competition after which the competitor becomes a Premier dancer. 10 dances - Fling, Sword,

Seann Truibhas, A Reel, Lilt, Flora, Johnnie, Laddie, Jig, Hornpipe

5. Premier – A competitor having completed all Pre-Premier (Beginner, Novice & Intermediate)

categories is classified as a Premier dancer. A dancer may choose at any time to become a Prem-

ier dancer but may not thereafter enter a Pre-Premier competition again. 14 dances - Fling, Sword,

Seann Truibhas, A Reel, Lilt, Flora, Village Maid, Blue Bonnets, Scotch Measure, Earl of Errol, John-

nie, Laddie, Jig, Hornpipe.

ScotDance Cards:

All dancers must register with the SOBHD Worldwide

Registration and upon doing so will receive their

ScotDance Card which enables them to compete

throughout the world. Your dance teachers will have

the necessary forms for you to fill out in December.

To the right is a sample of a ScotDance Card.

GU T H NA DA N NSA IRE A N V OIC E OF T HE D ANCE RS

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HIGHLAND DANCE BASICS FOR PARENTS

COMPETITIONS COMING ...

As lessons start back up at the various Highland Dance Schools there are a number of dance competitions to keep in mind. October 18— Battleford Competition

November 8— Regina Competition

November 22— Saskatoon Competition

November 23— Saskatoon Workshop

SHDA 60th Anniversary Ceilidh Come join us in celebrating 60 years of SHDA with a Ceilidh on Saturday October 25th at the German Concordio Club. There will be food, fun, dancing and much more. Tickets $10.00 adults $5.00 kids. Contact Christine Hanna for tickets:

the.hannas@sasktel.net

DANCE OUTS

As full or Associate members, you are invited to participate in S.H.D.A. dance outs. Full members are requested to participate in three but are welcome to do more. 2014 will see a variety of dance out opportunities, even invites to events outside of the city. Dance outs give our dancers an occasion to show off the dances they know and the new ones they learn before they take them to competition. Dance outs are an excel-lent way to expose our promote our culture.

Some of the regular dance out opportunities are: Festival of Trees, Sher-brooke, Potash Festi-val, Folkfest, Parkridge Centre and many more.

As the year passes and your dancer learns more dances, please let us know. Watch the website for a dance out update form.

Please pass on any en-quires about dance out opportunities.

Heather Hudson and Brittany Hanna h-hudson1@hotmail.com

Dance Out Coordina-tors SHDA

1701 Ruth Street E Saskatoon, SK

S7J 0L7

S A S K A T O O N H I G H LA N D D A N C I N G A S S O C I A T I O N

SHDA WEBSITE

www.shda.ca

Official Saskatchewan Tartan

Or check us out on Facebook:

Saskatoon Highland Dancing

Association

GU T H NA DA N NSA IRE A N V OIC E OF T HE D ANCE RS

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