Not for Glory: A New Twist on Folk Dance and Bagpipes
Listen to the story
A new dance performance called Not for Glory is showing at Dance Base in Edinburgh. It brings together traditional dance and modern movement in a fresh way.
The show features Jack Anderson, who was once a champion Irish dancer. He toured the world performing in popular Irish dance shows.
Later, Jack decided to study contemporary dance, a more modern and free style of movement. When he started, he kept his Irish dancing background hidden.
Charlotte Mclean also stars in the show. She was a champion Highland dancer, a traditional Scottish dance style known for its precise footwork.
Together, Jack and Charlotte explore how these traditional dance forms can change and grow when mixed with contemporary technique.
A musician named Malin Lewis performs live music using the bagpipes, a traditional Scottish instrument known for its powerful sound.
The combination of piping and dance gives old traditions a completely new feeling on stage.
According to the review, a written opinion piece about the performance, the show presents folk dance and bagpipes in a way audiences may not expect.
Not for Glory challenges typical ideas about what Irish and Highland dance should look like.
The show is being performed as part of a program at Dance Base, a venue known for supporting new and experimental dance work in Edinburgh.
Vocabulary6 words
- Dance Base
- a well-known dance venue in Edinburgh
- Irish dancer
- someone trained in traditional Irish dance
- contemporary dance
- a modern, flexible style of dance
- Highland dancer
- someone trained in traditional Scottish Highland dance
- bagpipes
- a loud traditional Scottish musical instrument
- review
- a short piece of writing giving an opinion about something, like a show
Quiz
Answer key
1. A new mix of folk dance and contemporary dance 2. It is not stated exactly, but he kept his Irish dance past hidden 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
A new dance performance called Not for Glory is showing at _____ in Edinburgh.
The show features Jack Anderson, who was once a champion _____.
Later, Jack decided to study _____ dance, a more modern and free style of movement.
Charlotte Mclean also stars in the show. She was a champion _____ dancer.
Together, Jack and Charlotte explore how these traditional dance forms can change when mixed with _____ technique.
A musician named Malin Lewis performs live music using the _____.
The combination of piping and dance gives old traditions a completely new _____ on stage.
According to the _____, the show presents folk dance and bagpipes in a way audiences may not expect.
Not for Glory challenges typical ideas about what Irish and Highland _____ should look like.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think Jack Anderson hid his Irish dance background at first?
- How might mixing traditional dance with contemporary dance change its meaning?
- Do you enjoy watching traditional dance or modern dance more, and why?
- What role do you think music, like bagpipes, plays in a dance performance?
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