This story is made possible through the support of Housser's Paint and Wallpaper as part of OrilliaMatters' Community Leaders Program
Do you or your kiddos have Scotland in your blood? Are you worried the cool days of fall and winter will have you hunkering down and turning into a couch potato? Have you always wondered how those amazing Highland and step dancers do it?
Worry and wonder no longer! Barbara MacMillan has you and your kids covered, with Scottish Highland and Step dancing lessons at the Dalton Hall, starting this fall.
“I competed and traveled internationally doing Highland Dancing all through my teen and older years, and was one of the top four in Canada,” MacMillan shared. “And I started learning Cape Breton step dancing when I was 12. So, I am well-versed in both of these amazing dances and would love to pass my knowledge on to any aspiring dancers in the area.”
MacMillan is in her third year of teaching at her Orillia Highland and Step Dancing School located at the Dalton Hall. So far, she mostly has adult students, but would love to expand into children and youth. Lessons take place on Friday nights and Saturday mornings, which is convenient for both adult and youth in the area.
“I run three sessions, Fall, Winter, and Spring,” she explained. “Rates are reasonable, and my students love learning the steps, both the mental and physical effort of it.”
MacMillan and a couple of her students, as well as fellow dance teachers, can often be seen dancing at the Hog ‘n’ Penny at special occasions, or during the Orillia Scottish Festival. “I really still love to dance, and it’s a way to showcase my knowledge, and reach out to people who might want to learn,” she said. “We really enjoy dancing there especially on New Year’s Eve and St. Patrick’s Day.”
MacMillan shared that a form of step dancing can be found in many cultures. “There are variations of it through Indigenous culture, up in the Yukon, of course Scotland, even clogging is a variation of step dancing,” she stated. “I am familiar with and can teach both the Ontario versions and the Cape Breton versions, which is what the Rankin family do.”
If you or your children are interested in finding out more about MacMillan’s dance lessons, you can contact her directly at [email protected] or by calling 705-329-8871. You can also find out more by checking out the Facebook page here.
Fall session dancing starts after Thanksgiving.
“Teaching is a way to pass down my knowledge to others, and know that these special cultural dances will continue on,” said MacMillan. “I really enjoy it and love sharing it with new students, each year.”
