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August 5, 2006
If you can't stop them, teach them
CBC News
Square
dancers in a Cape Breton community are growing sore from
tourists stepping on their toes, so they're setting up
lessons for the newcomers.
Every
Saturday night in West Mabou, a fiddler will drive 'er for
hours while dancers kick up their heels, like they've done
since childhood.
It's a
tradition that has deep Scottish roots in Inverness County,
but when eager tourists show up, it starts to get confusing.
"It's fun
to watch them," Donald MacDonald said with a laugh. "They
can't keep time with the music."
At 86,
MacDonald, known as Johnny Murdock, the blind man's son, is
the oldest dancer on the floor. He's been step dancing every
Saturday night for the last 20 years.
"Doesn't
matter when I land at the dance, my seat is ready," said
MacDonald.
One night,
a woman was chased out of his seat by her husband. "He
didn't expect me so he let his wife sit down. He saw me
coming [and told her], 'You get out of there.'"
Over the
years, the dances in West Mabou and nearby Brook Village
have also become a hit with tourists.
Cheryl
MacQuarrie has no trouble spotting the newcomers.
"Keeping
time isn't their only problem," she said. "Every now and
then they're a little out of control."
MacQuarrie
recalls one bus tour group of Japanese tourists that were so
excited, two people got hurt. A woman was hit in the back of
her head. A man trying to click his heels jumped into the
air, only to land on the floor with a thump.
"We don't
mind the tourists and that coming in. Like we'll act silly
and crazy in the set just as much as anybody else will, but
at the same time you want some sort of organization,"
MacQuarrie said.
The
solution? Dance lessons.
MacQuarrie
travels the winding, potholed roads to get to community
halls and old schoolhouses to give crash courses in square
dancing before the real dances begin.
After a
lesson at Glencoe Mills hall, Adrien Beaton is ready to give
it whirl.
"I'm a
little bit more comfortable, but not much," said Beaton, a
tourist from Montreal whose parents were born in Cape
Breton.
Thanks to
MacQuarrie, a few more visitors are catching on.
For a schedule of dance lessons, please visit CB Choices.
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Above photo:
Margaree (by Victor Maurice Faubert)
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