The Blackstone Theatre Celtic Festival
Last Saturday, in 95 degree heat, three sets of dancers had great Craic dancing to the fabulous music provided by the Broad Street Ceili band.
The setting for the festival could not have been any better. The Diamond Hill Park is a hidden jewel located in Cumberland RI. As you enter the park, there is a small lagoon, at the back of the lagoon, a permanent stage. Small hills surround the lagoon forming a natural amphitheater, complete with many trees for shade. On the upper left was an additional stage for music and on the upper right, the dance stage.
Barry Callahan was the designated emcee for the day and did a superb job coordinating all the different events at the dance tent. Set Dancing accompanied Irish Step Dancing, Irish Improvisational dances, Ceili dances and a few other styles I was not familiar with.
There were set dancers from Massachusetts and Rhode Island, dancing the Sliabh Luchra, Kilfenora, Antrim Squares, and other sets throughout the day. Barry shared some history of sets with the audience: all Clare sets have a social figure where everyone changes partners; the fourth figure of Clare sets is always a Show the Lady, etc. These are some facts that I had never heard before. He also changed the way the Sliabh Luchra was danced to reflect the original version.
On my ride down with friends, I offered to donate for gas. Joe suggested that I buy him a Guinness instead. The deal was struck. The Blackstone River Celtic Festival is family friendly and “dry”. I still owe him the Guinness
All in all, it was a great time.
Frank Lee Irish
No comments:
Post a Comment