Step Dancing at the Celtic Music Site, Judique

A late night at the Glencoe square dance in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia last night had me cursing the alarm this morning. But then I remembered that I was going to the Celtic Music Site in Judique where I would be hanging out at a lunchtime ceilidh (Mon-Sat 11:30 am – 1:30 pm) and then having step dance lessons afterwards.

Brandi McCarthy and Kolten McDonell at a Cape Breton Ceilidh at the Celtic Music Site in Judique, Cape Breton (Nova Scotia).

So I pulled myself out of bed—flashes of square dancing sets and spinning around the community hall dancing through my head—and got ready for the 1.5 hour drive from Iona to Judique on the west side of Cape Breton.

Lunchtime Ceilidh
I sat down at my table to order my lunch (pan fried haddock, mashed potatoes, carrots, coleslaw and blueberry pie for $10.95!) and recognized the fiddler up on stage: I had met Brandi McCarthy last night at the Glencoe square dance. She came up to me after the ceilidh and said, “I met you at the dance last night, right?… We all get around.” I even wrote in my notebook, “I keep seeing the same people at everything!”

At the end of the ceilidh, I was surprised when I turned around to see Burton, who I also met last night, sitting right behind me. (We made plans to meet up later, as were both coincidently going to the same show tonight.)

Back at the ceilidh, Brandi played the fiddle, accompanied by Kolten MacDonell on piano. Then her and Melanie took turns step dancing. Burton even got up and did a little step dance.

Another couple and myself went to the music demonstration by Melanie after lunch. She explained the history of the bagpipes, fiddle and step dancing in Cape Breton, before giving us a taste of different tunes and steps.

A gentleman from New York State told her, “You have big ears and a good left hand.” In other words, she was a wonderful fiddler and extremely natural.

Step Dance Lessons
Then it was time to get some step dancing lessons in. Brandi was gracious enough to show me some basic steps, go over them a million times and answer my inane questions. She even went on to write down a few of the basic strathspey and reels we did so I could practice them once I got home.

Cape Breton Step Dancing at a Ceilidh at the Celtic Music Site in Judique, Cape Breton (Canada).

(And I have been. On Jim’s recommendation—from the Highland Village—I bought Donald Angus Beaton’s Live at Home CD and have been stepping in my living room back in Vancouver, much to my downstairs neighbours pleasure, I’m sure!)

What I Liked:

• This was my third day in Cape Breton and I was already getting to know many people. I love it here!
• I don’t think it’s possible to get sick of ceilidh’s. Relaxing to fiddling and step dancing and whatever else comes about is my idea of a good time.
• Brandi’s short step dance lesson was fantastic. I am beginning to understand the music changes, which go from a strathspey to a reel, and how I have to change my steps accordingly. For someone who has never danced to a fiddle, let alone grew up hearing it, this is been a challenge. 

Tags: Brandi McCarthy, Cape Breton, ceilidh, Celtic Music Site, Donald Angus Beaton, Judique, Kolten MacDonell, Live at Home cd, Nova Scotia, ns, Reels, step dance lessons, step dancing, strathspey