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A Trip to Lorient
"A Trip to Lorient" is a new dance to be publically performed for the first time at the largest Celtic gathering in Europe. The creator, Ian Brockbank (Edinburgh Branch), will lead a young RSCDS team to perform his dance at the Interceltique Festival in Lorient, Brittany, France in early August. The Scottish Executive has provided significant funds to VisitScotland, the governmental agency responsible for promoting Scotland as a tourist destination, to ensure a strong Scottish representation at this very popular summer event. The RSCDS is, for perhaps the first time, playing a role in promoting Scottish culture in an official capacity.
Scotland is being given centre-stage at this year's event which will attract some 700,000 visitors to Lorient. It runs from the 3rd to 12th of August, and is an annual showcase, if not a Mecca, for all forms of music of Celtic origin.
As a result of RSCDS HQ (Jim Healy - Membership Services) involvement, Scottish country dancing will be featured at Lorient. By 'showcasing' various aspects of Scotland's rich cultural identity the intent is to encourage people to come and experience Scotland for themselves. So once these 700,000 young hot-stepping Celtic music-lovers get a taste of "A Trip to Lorient" they will be coming to Scotland in droves to do more of it. That, at least, is what those responsible for promoting Scotland's image are hoping, and Ian with the other energetic Scottish dancers will be doing his best to ensure that happens.
Strictly Country Dancing - A trip to Lorient to take 'pas de basque' to France !
Click on this link to the Edinburgh Evening News issue of July 17 to see Ian in action with the sprightly Scottish Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture, Linda Fabiani.
