Ceilidh Culture
Ceilidh Culture is Edinburgh's annual showcase of traditional arts, held in the spring of each year. Featuring over 30 organisations, both profesional and voluntary, it showcases the best of homegrown talent alongside acts from across the world, with local performers as well as international stars from all sectors of the traditional arts.
A busy programme from the Scottish Storytelling Centre reflects the essential role of storytelling within both the heritage and future of the traditional arts. Storytelling is at the roots of Scotland's rich oral tradition, bringing words and life together. Ceilidh Culture is a great opportunity to to explore this artform.
The programme of events from the Scottish Storytelling Centre emphasises the important role of storytelling in both the past and future of the traditional arts. Read on for just a few of the events at the Scottish Storytelling Centre this year.
The Music of What Happens - 31 March
Starting with The Music of What Happens: Celtic tradition, we are encouraged to explore Celtic storytelling traditions through riddles, blessings, hero tales and stories of the saints. David Campbell encourges us through this inspiring workshop, which provides an introduction into the deeper purpose of storytelling; drawing all races, creeds and ages together around the hearth of stories.
Starting with Stories: Animal Magic and Fairy Stories - 6 &13 April
The workshop events, as part of Ceilidh Culture and the Centre's ongoing training programme, draw on the richness of the Celtic and Border traditions and the magic of animal and fairy tales to provide aspiring and experienced tellers alike with opportunities to develop their storytelling skills and interests.
On 6 April, Donald Smith and Ruth Kirkpatrick lead two workshops aimed at those with little or no experience of storytelling. Animal Magic uses material developed by the Scottish Storytelling Centre's Indian partner, the Kathalaya Trust in Bangalore and provides the perfect starting point for storytelling-for children and for those interested in telling stories. Fairy Stories on 13 April explores the what, why and how of telling fairy tales in the traditional oral style, examining why they are important for children and grown-ups alike.
Singing Streets - 14 April
Storyteller and folk singer Ewan McIver brings traditional Scots Street and Playground Games to life, where families can join in with the energetic storytelling experience of Singing Streets.
This year’s Ceilidh Culture sees the introduction of the ‘Ceilidh House’, which will be hosted at a different venue every Saturday night and where the craic and ceòl goes on long into the wee hours.
Also, in preparation for the City of Edinburgh Council's Gaelic Language Plan, Ceilidh Culture is proud to host Gaelic events throughout the programme. Gaelic performances in the Opening Concert, performances by the Lothian Gaelic Choir and Fèis Dhùn Èideann are some of this year’s Gaelic Highlights.
Ceilidh Culture is more than just a programme of performing artists, however, and you too have the chance to be involved and get a taste for the traditional. Adults and children of all ages will have the opportunity to take part in Gaelic singing lessons, storytelling workshops and poetry readings as well as learning how to play traditional instruments. The original meaning of cèilidh is a house gathering where everyone would be expected to contribute a song, a dance or a story. And that's exactly what we aim to have in this programme - so join in!
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These are just a few highlights of the 2007 Ceilidh Culture programme - for full information, please visit the Ceilidh Culture website. | |