Traditional Dance, Song and Songmaking

Projects for Schools and Communities — Create and Celebrate!

“Arts-based activity can make learning fun, and help fulfil curriculum requirements for Expressive Arts!”

CeilidhMakers are Mats Melin (Traditional Dance) and Christine Kydd (Traditional Song and Songmaking). Mats and Christine are both highly experienced in both the creation and delivery of projects, both as workshop leaders and as administrators. Both are based in Angus, with their talents sought after throughout Scotland, the UK, Europe and New Zealand, North America and Canada.

CeilidhMakers— Dance, Sing and make your own songs!
Traditional Song, Dance and Songmaking projects for School and Community groups. These projects are designed to enhance the delivery of the curriculum in active, dynamic and creative ways, and to add to Community development through the Arts. An exciting combination of social dancing, step dancing, singing and Songmaking allows the group to learn together, to sing for dancing, and make up their own songs.

• Songmaking projects recently pioneered in Scotland have seen children and adults make up songs which celebrate who they are and where they come from. These include 'Celebrating Fife in Song' (New Makars Trust) and 'A Sense of Place' (Stirling Council).

• Traditional dance projects have been running successfully through the efforts of a number of top specialists, including Mats Melin. Over the past eight years Mats worked with Traditional Dance Development in Shetland, Orkney, Sutherland and Angus. Each project included specially devised education packages for children and young adults.

• Professional development workshops for teachers, tutors and professionals at all levels can further enhance the experience. Skills and experience are gained which can continue to contribute to school and community.

[Ceilidh - 'kelI - orig. an informal social gathering among neighbours, with or without singing, playing instruments, story-telling etc., spontaneously performed by some or all of those present; a visit, chat, gossip. (The Concise Scots Dictionary)].

CeilidhMakers — Traditional Dance, Song and Songmaking — What's on Offer?
Workshops, Projects and Project Administration. Projects can be tailored to your school or group:

Option 1
Create and learn with the Professionals!
Taster Half-day (2 classes or groups each have a workshop in both song and dance, of around 45 minutes to 1 hour each, then swap over.)

Option 2
Three Workshop Package (Half-days) includes learning some songs, and an introduction to songmaking. Traditional dances would include Scottish step dancing, and a mix of Ceilidh dances.

Option 3
Five Workshop Package would build up a repertoire of dances and songs, and songmaking. Outcomes can include sharing with other classes.

Option 4
Celebrate! - Ceilidh Making!
By adding rehearsal time, the three and five session options can be adapted to working towards a number of possible outcomes.
1) Perform for the school or
2) Perform at a school event
3) Perform at a local event or
4) Performance and sharing in local venues eg local hospital, old folks home, day centre.
5) Make a Ceilidh!

CeilidhMakers — Administration Services
We are experienced in working with large agencies including local authorities. We can work with you to design the project you want. We can design projects for more than one school, for a cluster, larger group of schools, or a community or communities. Please contact us for further information.

More about CeilidhMakers
Mats Melin is an acknowledged authority on Traditional Dance, and has delivered a number of highly successful projects for schools, communities and local authorities, both as freelancer and project co-ordinator. Swedish born Traditional Dancer and Researcher Mats Melin is based in Angus. He has worked and performed extensively in Angus, Sutherland, the Scottish Highlands, the Hebrides, Orkney, and Shetland, in their schools and communities promoting Scottish traditional dance. He has also taught and performed in Canada, USA, and New Zealand. Mats has a vast knowledge of all aspects of the Scottish Traditional Dance scene, but specialises in Step dancing and the old social dances such as the Scotch reels and Quadrilles. He has worked both with traditional and contemporary artists in Scotland. Mats has been Traditional Dance Artist in Residence for both Shetland and Sutherland. Between 1998 and March 2003 he was working as the Traditional Dance Development Officer first for the Angus District and later fro Parth and Kinross on behalf of The Scottish Traditions of Dance Trust. Mats is currently working as a freelance dance teacher and performer. He is married with with a young family and presently lives in Kirriemuir, Angus.

Christine Kydd is one of Scotland's most highly respected singers and workshop leaders in Scots song. As concert artiste, she has performed and recorded, over the last twenty years, with other singers and musicians to produce some of Scotland's finest sounds. Her work in schools and community has consistently formed part of her varied schedule. Includes more recently songmaking projects for The New Makars Trust with Primary age children, for local authorities in Secondary schools, and with adults, forming community based singing groups with a focus on Scots song and Culture. She has extensive experience of working in community settings towards performance and celebration. In 1999 and 2000 she was Traditional Music Resident in Aberdeenshire, and during 2000 and 2001 was Music Development Officer for Sound Tracks!, a community based project on music making in traditions and technology for Scottish Arts Council National Lottery, and Stirling Council. At present Christine works as freelance singer, and as tutor and workshop leader in Scots Song, voice and singing. One major project she currently contributes to is Scotland's School for Excellence in Traditional Music. Christine has featured on TV, radio and at numerous festivals in the UK, in Europe and in North America, and Russia, as both teacher and performer.

Download this page in as pdf.