ONLINE
DANCE COURSES
All prices are in Canadian dollars. Pay securely with a credit card through PayPal.
$99.99 for 15 Videos. Unlimited access while you learn at your own pace.
Online Dance Course. 15 Videos Included.
Beginner Stepdancing
With Sabra MacGillivray
I will take you through a 15-video series of step dance instruction at the beginner level to learn the basic strathspey and reel steps commonly performed in the step dancing regions where I grew up in Cape Breton.
By the end of the series, you will be able to perform an entire solo step dance routine which consists of strathspeys and reels. All the steps are broken down into different tempos, starting at a very slow speed, and gradually building to full tempo. So, you can learn at your own speed, taking as long as you need to master the steps, and in the comfort of your own home!
I’ve included audio tracks that you can download (recorded by my brother Troy MacGillivray) with 3 different tempos to practice along to. Also, there is a PDF that you can download or print off so that you can follow along with the steps, and easily find the tempos of each of the steps outlined by the time code.
Once you complete this series, you will be well on your way to learning more intermediate and advanced steps, found in the next series with more coming in the future. Happy dancing!
Online Dance Course. 12 Videos Included.
NOvice Stepdancing
With Sabra MacGillivray
The Novice Step Dancing video series takes you through a Strathspey and Reel step dancing routine consisting of novice to intermediate steps. If you have completed the Beginner module, then this program will be the perfect progression of step dancing for you. If you have some dance experience already, then you may be able to jump right into the Novice series.
There are 4 strathspey steps and 6 reel steps with several variations, so you will have lots of steps to add to your repertoire! All steps are broken down into great detail and then brought up to full speed. You progress at your own rate as you feel comfortable.
You can practice all the steps along with the audio tracks provided. These were recorded by my brother, Troy MacGillivray especially for this video series. Many thanks to Troy for provided such wonderful accompaniment. http://www.troymacgillivray.com
Happy Dancing!
$59.99 for 6 Videos. Unlimited access while you learn at your own pace.
Online Dance Course. 6 Videos Included.
The Aberdonian Lassie
With Sabra MacGillivray
The Aberdonian Lassie has steps that are similar to the Highland Fling, but also has movements that are percussive in nature, as well as heel and toe beats. According to Mats Melin (2019), there is a local folklore story about this dance, that says this dance was a tribute to a very well-liked teacher from Aberdeen, who lived in the Hebrides for quite some time and then went back to Aberdeen. Some of the steps symbolize her going away and her return.
There are 6 steps in this series. I teach each step at a slow tempo, broken down at slow speed without the music to begin. And then we pick up the tempo and put it to the music.
You have access to all of the videos at once, so you can learn at your own pace, and you have the videos to go back to for review. You may wear a hard-soled shoe, or a soft shoe and arm movements are optional.
I’ve included an audio recording for you to download so that you can practice along to the music. The music was played and recorded by Troy MacGillivray at the University of Limerick. And also, there is a PDF that you can download that outlines all of the steps of each dance, as named by Dr. Mats Melin and described step-by-step in his book “Hebridean Step Dancing – the legacy of nineteenth-century dancing master Ewen MacLachlan” . Happy Dancing!
$69.99 for 6 Videos. Unlimited access while you learn at your own pace.
Online Dance Course. 6 Videos Included.
OVER THE WATERS TO CHARLIE
With Sabra MacGillivray
According to Mats Melin (2019), local tradition of this dance tells a story of how Island clansmen went “over the waters” to get to the mainland of Scotland to fight for Bonnie Prince Charlie in the Jacobite Rising. In “Over the Waters to Charlie”, you’ll find movements similar to the hop-brush-beat-beat in Highland dancing, referred to as the point-close-beat in this dance. There are also percussive shuffle movements.
There are 7 steps in this series, with an additional fifth-step variation. I teach each step at a slow tempo, broken down at slow speed without the music to begin. And then we pick up the tempo and put it to the music.
You have access to all of the videos at once, so you can learn at your own pace, and you have the videos to go back to for review. You may wear a hard-soled shoe or a soft shoe and arm movements are optional.
I’ve included an audio recording for you to download so that you can practice along to the music. The music was played and recorded by Troy MacGillivray at the University of Limerick. And also, there is a PDF that you can download that outlines all of the steps of each dance, as named by Dr. Mats Melin and described step-by-step in his book “Hebridean Step Dancing – the legacy of nineteenth-century dancing master Ewen MacLachlan”. Happy Dancing!
OTHER
PRODUCTS
Physical products shipped to your door. All prices are in Canadian dollars. Pay securely with a credit card through PayPal.
The National Dances (CD)
Highland dancing music from Nova Scotia
Highland Dance Music from Nova Scotia is a collection of tunes treasured by dancers and musicians alike that reflects Nova Scotia’s world-famous roots music on a variety of instruments from fiddle and piano to bagpipes and guitar. Sabra MacGillivray is a champion highland dancer who has been dancing to her family’s music for as long as she can remember.
Her brother, Troy, is an award winning instrumentalist who combines his music with his innate musicality, driving rhythm and technical mastery of both fiddle and piano to showcase his passion for the traditional music he grew up with.
Together their passion for the music and dance goes hand-in-hand with their dedication to continuing the arts associated with their Scottish heritage.
Gaelic In The Feet (DVD)
Scottish step Dancing for Beginners
If you’ve ever had a secret desire to dance like Sabra MacGillivray, the well-travelled dancer, choreographer and dance instructor is now offering the next best thing to a private lesson.
Renowned as a solo and group dancer on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, MacGillivray was inspired to create a DVD project after several participants in dance workshops requested a means of reviewing the steps she had displayed moments earlier.
“I’ve had these requests quite a few times, and I’ve tried to write the steps down, but it’s not the same as watching it,” she pointed out.
Although the DVD does not feature what MacGillivray describes as advanced dance routines, she feels the project’s instructional style will allow viewers to piece together their own variety of Celtic step-dance combinations based on the basic steps.
“I try to explain in the video that you can get up and do this routine to any strathspey and reel combo, but there’s a variation to your basic step, so you can put that variation in anywhere that you want, or mix up the order,” she pointed out. “They definitely have that freedom – that’s the nice thing about our style of step-dancing.”
-Award Winning Dancer-
Sabra
MacGillivray
