About Us

(Education, ceilidhs, weddings,concerts, sponsors, ideas, aims )

Dannsa are now 3; Caroline Reagh, Sandra Robertson and Fin Moore. Frank McConnell and Mats Melin, two of our original core members, are dancing their own paths in Conon Bridge and Limerick, respectively. We thank Frank and Mats for their generosity, of both skill and fun, they shared with us in the formative years of Dannsa.

Caroline, Sandra and Fin are very excited about the future; the projects we have in the pipeline and the ones still to emerge.

The newly-formed Dannsa Ceilidh Band have been on the road recently with additional dates to come in August(link to forthcoming events)We provide an evening of ceilidh dancing interspersed with pieces performed by Dannsa. We begin with some of the favourites, Gay Gordons, Dashing White Sergeant, Virginia Reel with everyone joining in. If you don't know the dance we will remind you. We do the dances you want and are interested in the particular version of a dance in your area. Come along to meet, listen, observe and dance, go home with good tunes lingering in your head and the inspiration that dance can bring. Have a Ceilidh with the Dannsa Ceilidh Band (link to photo and info, names).

We have just finished filming our first tutorial DVD for learners and intermediates. The DVD is still being edited and should be ready for release in November. It has lessons on Strathspeys, Reel and Jigs as well as a few performances from the past.

Chaidh cuisean glè mhath anns na sgoiltean Gàidhlig am bliadhna. We delivered almost 50 workshops in Portree, Dingwall, Tollcross, Edinburgh and Newtonmore Primary schools to children aged between 3 and 12.
Dannsa offers dance workshops as part of their work. These workshops can be tailor made to suit the circumstances. Caroline and Sandra are established dance teachers with the Educational system. We can teach all forms of Scottish dance: Highland, Hebridean, Step dancing, Scotch Reels, Scottish Country Dancing and Ceilidh Dance.

Biographies

Caroline Reagh

Caroline Reagh was born in Montrose. She began ballet dancing at the age of 6 until her family moved to Alyth and she took up highland dancing. Caroline trained as a P.E teacher at Dunfermline College of Physical Education in Edinburgh studying dance, aesthetics and theatre studies. She continued her formal dance training at Grant MacEwan Community College, Edmonton, Canada. Grants from the British Council and the Scottish Arts Council have taken her to study dance in places as far apart as Austria, Jamaica, Cape Breton Island and South Uist. She has enjoyed living near Evanton for 15 years and working and performing with other artists including actors, sculptors, painters, musicians and writers, was co-founder /director PointBlank Dance Theatre, chair Community Dance Scotland, Director Scottish Youth Dance Festival and Dance Artist in Residence Ross and Cromarty District Council. Her interest in step dance has taken her to Sabhal Mòr Ostaig in Skye, Ceolas, South Uist and Cape Breton in pursuit of good times and rattling feet. Caroline has recently trained as a Natural Nutritionist and currently lives in Edinburgh. She looks forward to combining dance and Nutrition in creative work with children and adults.

Sandra Robertson

Sandra Robertson has danced since childhood. She trained in Highland Dancing for over 10 years gaining a teaching qualification with the BATD. She became interested in more traditional styles of dance on witnessing Fearchar MacNeil's revival of the Hebridean dances in Barra, her family home. She has also studied older folk dances and styles with James MacDonald Reid as a member of 'Drumalban'. Latterly she has been hugely attracted to step-dancing which she has studied both here in Scotland and Cape Breton. Sandra has performed, both solo and as a group, throughout Scotland as well as Ireland, Wales, France and Barbados. She has also taught extensively throughout Scotland. She is now married and lives in Kingussie.

Fin Moore

Fin Moore is a piper, born & bred. He plays the Highland pipes, Border pipes and Scottish Small Pipes. For five years, he played in the Vale of Atholl Juvenile Band and is now working with his father, Hamish, as very successful pipe makers. They have nearly made 1000 sets of pipes. There pipes are played all over the world and appear on dozens of recordings.

Fin has gained a great reputation as a teacher. He has taught at the Gaelic College in Cape Breton for four seasons, the Lowland and Border Pipers Society annual teaching weekend in Melrose and at The Piper Gathering, Vermont and other schools around the world. In 2008 he was asked to teach at the SFU pipe band summer school in Brittish Columbia.
He has now performed at the Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow, Celtic Colours in Cape Breton, the Edinburgh International Festival and the William Kennedy Piping Festival, Armagh, as well as numerous appearances around the world.
He has played solo and with bands including, Dannsa, who are gaining great respect in Scotland and abroad for their traditional and innovating dancing. The internationally renowned Cape Breton band, Slainte Mhath and Scottish band Back of the Moon, winners at the Scottish traditional music awards 2003.
He is currently playing with dannsa, and Sarah Hoy as part of a fiddle and pipes duo. He is working on new venture with 3 other pipers on reproductions of 18th Century Highland pipes playing traditional Scottish tunes.
Fin has also been practicing his step dancing, which means he can sometimes be seen giving a step or two.
Although he hasn't recorded a solo album yet, he appears on several compilation albums and played on two of Andrea Beaton albums.
"this boy was born to play a reel and when he did so on the Scottish Small Pipes, stamping both feet to produce a step dance rhythm section........ living precariously with his own exciting variations, he was magic" 25th of August 1999, Alastair Clark The Scotsman.
"Fin Moore is quite outstanding as a teacher" 2001 Angus MacMillian, summer school student