Clabber, Coal & Ceilidh

Over 170 primary school children and support staff from four primary schools attended workshops looking at mining life through dance, poetry and drama, song and percussion.

Following on from a successful project last year, five tutors arrived for a four day event at the Scottish Mining Museum in Newtongrange in May 2006.

Based on the theme of the life, work and play of a miner at the time the mine at Newtongrange was active, the children were split into three groups and took part in each workshop.

In the poetry and drama workshop, children enacted scenes from a poem written about a particular aspect of a miner's life from conditions underground to what he ate in his piece!

All songs and poetry were taken from a CD, 'Songs of Mining Life', which were created as part of a project in Fife schools in 2004 by Gifford Lind.

In the songs and percussion workshop, each group learned a different song based on mining life. 

They enjoyed reproducing mining sounds using percussion instruments, such as the marching of the miners' boots as they arrived for work and the beating of the picks on the coal seam.

They also participated in some 'clabber dancing' as the miners would have done in their hob-nailed boots.

Finally, in the Ceilidh Dance workshop the children learned a variety of ceilidh dances, one of which they chose as their 'performance piece' and one common dance in which everyone participated as a grand finale.

At the end of the day, the three groups performed for their peers. Each group had learned a different poem, song and ceilidh dance to perform to the rest of their colleagues, therefore each audience was treated to a new 'show' every time.

The feedback from the children and teachers to STDT has been tremendous. The teachers and accompanying staff were also able to contribute to the day, join in and learn activities.

Some comments from the children involved: 'I didn't have a favourite part of the day because it was all great.' 'Thank you for organising a wonderful day at the museum.' 'I enjoyed the performance and I wish I could go back.' 'My favourite bit of the day was when everybody got together and showed what they had done.'

Comments from the tutors:

'I felt that most of the children left the museum having been energised by their learning and performing experience.'
'The children were exposed to artistic fields which they may not normally have access to.'

The project was a partnership between Scottish Traditions of Dance Trust (STDT), Midlothian Council Cultural Co-ordinators, and the Mining Museum, Newtongrange.

STDT would like to thank Cheryl Keenan, Cultural Co-ordinator, Midlothian Council and Alison Shepard, Education Officer, Scottish Mining Museum for inviting them to deliver the project and for making it happen.

Check out Air Time to read about Scottish Traditions of Dance Trust's recent work in Clackmannanshire Council.