CELTIC WORKSHOPS
SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING
CelticFest is delighted that the Royal Scottish Country Dancing Society of Queensland will run beginners and intermediate Scottish country dancing sessions at CelticFest Warwick. The sessions will be run by Diana Hastie, a Sydney-based, Scottish born and bred Scottish country dancing teacher, with 20 years teaching experience in Australia, New Zealand and Scotland.
Scottish Country Dancing (SCD) is a social dance form with roots in the 18th and 19th centuries, characterized by groups of couples dancing progressive formations to traditional Scottish music like reels, jigs, and strathspeys. It's known for being both physically and mentally invigorating, enjoyed for its social aspect and the intricate patterns of the dances.
Dancers are normally grouped in sets, typically of three, four or five couples arranged either in two lines (partners facing each other) or in a square. They work together to dance a short sequence of formations that provide a particular dance with its identity. The originality of the formations ensures each couple gets the chance to experience the dance from different positions.
Beginners' Taster sessions:
Designed for complete beginners, no experience or partner necessary. You'll be introduced to some easy, fun dances to get you moving and interacting with others. Expect to meet new people and enjoy moving to Scottish music. We recommend comfortable, soft shoes (sneakers or dance shoes).
Saturday 4 October, 10.30am-11.30am; 2.30pm-3.30pm
Sunday 5 October, at 9.30am-10.30am; and 11.30am-12.30pm
Venue: The Pavilion
Cost: Included in CelticFest Saturday, Sunday and weekend tickets
Intermediate session:
Aimed at those who have been to SCD classes before, this class will be at an intermediate level to improve or introduce steps, formations and dances.
Saturday 4 October, 11.45am-1.15pm
Venue: The Pavilion
Cost: Included in CelticFest Saturday and weekend tickets
Visit the Royal Scottish Country Dancing Society of Queensland Website
PYROGRAPHY: BESOM BROOM MAKING
Make your very own besom broom at CelticFest, in a workshop run by the Lockyer Valley based NG Knives! Besoms also have a long history in folklore. Traditionally, they’re seen as protective tools - used to sweep away negative energy, bring good luck, and mark new beginnings. All materials included, as well as tuition.
NG Knives runs beginner-friendly knife-making and blacksmithing classes for all ages, teaching their students how to make tools such as knives, axes, hammers and flint strikers, as well as decorative items such as hooks.
Date: Saturday 4 October
Time: Various, throughout the day
Cost: $50 per person (NOT included in CelticFest ticket)
Bookings: https://ngknives.as.me/schedule/4c0fea3f/?appointmentTypeIds[]=78900825
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NGKnives
Website: https://www.ngknives.au/
BUCKET LIST – FUN WITH GAELIC LANGUAGE
LORNA WARNE
Learn some beginner Gaelic! Yes, you too can have a go at getting your tongue around some Scottish Gaelic guided by talented musician, singer and lover of Gaelic, Lorna Warne. Try some beginner Scottish Gaelic words and phrases and get an understanding of their meaning so you can bedazzle your friends. You may also get to sing a couple of catchy Gaelic songs, such as Crodh-Laoidh Nam Bodach (The Old Man’s Calving Cows) & Fear a' Bhàta (The Boatman).
Saturday 4 October, 10.45am-11.30am
Sunday 5 October, 9.30am-10am
Venue: Meadows Marquee
Cost: Included in CelticFest Saturday, Sunday and weekend tickets
HISTORY OF CELTIC SONG (WAULKING SONGS)
KURRAJONG SONG
Follow in the footsteps of Claire Beauchamp from Outlander as you learn to waulk the wool and sing a traditional waulking song. You never know, there might just be a Jamie Fraser on hand to cast a loving eye over your handiwork.
Lissa and Laura from Kurrajong Song will be running free waulking workshops in the CelticFest Meadows Marquee on Saturday at 3:15 pm and Sunday at 9:30 am. This is an incredibly unique opportunity for you to learn the process of waulking as well as one of the Gaelic waulking songs that participants sang while they worked. Waulking is a traditional Scottish process of finishing woven wool fabric by hand, during which Scottish women of the time gathered at a table to rhythmically beat, rub, and knead wet wool to make the fabric denser, softer, and more durable by shrinking, strengthening, and raising its nap.
Everyone will be encouraged to sing along in full voice, but seats at the waulking table are limited. If you would like to immerse yourself in the Outlander experience and gain a deeper appreciation of what it would have been like to waulk the wool.
Saturday 4 October, 3:15pm-3:45pm
Sunday 5 October, 9:30am-10:00am
Venue: Meadows Marquee
Cost: Included in CelticFest Saturday, Sunday and weekend tickets
POP-UP CELTIC CHOIR, LED BY THE QUEENSLAND IRISH CHOIR
If you’ve ever wanted to sing a traditional Irish tune with a top-notch Irish choir, here’s your chance! The Queensland Irish Choir is coming to CelticFest to not only perform, but also to run a half hour workshop, led by musical director, David O’Keeffe, and accompanied by Tim Li on keyboard. The choir is issuing an open invitation for people to join them to learn a traditional Irish song and then perform it in front of a live audience. You could be learning the words and the melodies to Irish and Celtic favourites such as The Hills of Connemara, The Little Beggarman, or The Lark in the Clear Air! Time to dust off those vocal chords!
The Queensland Irish Choir is a non-auditioned, community choir established in 2014 under the inspired direction of Musical Director David O’Keeffe and Accompanist Tim Li. There are about 50 members in the choir, which normally performs at least three concerts a year, including mainly Irish melodies but also Celtic melodies originating from all over the world. Members do not need to be Irish to join, but must have a love of music, endless enthusiasm, a ready smile, and a commitment to rehearse regularly and to participate in the choir’s concerts.
Date: Sunday 5 October
Time: 12.45am-1.15pm
Venue: The Pavilion
Cost: Included in CelticFest Sunday and weekend tickets
Website: https://www.qldirishchoir.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/qldirishchoir
PYROGRAPHY: WOODEN UTENSIL BURNING
Customise your very own wooden utensil/spoon at CelticFest, in a workshop run by the Lockyer Valley based NG Knives! Transform a wooden utensil/spoon into a work of art using pyrography techniques at our CelticFest pop-up class! All materials included, as well as tuition.
NG Knives runs beginner-friendly knife-making and blacksmithing classes for all ages, teaching their students how to make tools such as knives, axes, hammers and flint strikers, as well as decorative items such as hooks.
Date: Sunday 5 October
Time: Various, throughout the day
Cost: $50 per person (NOT included in CelticFest ticket)
Bookings: https://ngknives.as.me/schedule/4c0fea3f/?appointmentTypeIds[]=81919927
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NGKnives
Website: https://www.ngknives.au/