Georgina
August 20, 2008 07:50 PM
John Slykhuis
Christina Thomas is planning to revive a tradition her father Gord Thomas first spearheaded more than 25 years ago with the Georgina Highland Games.
Ms Thomas, who has the full backing of the Georgina Chamber of Commerce, said the success of last month’s highland dance competition she organized convinced her a new games would work.
If all goes according to plan, the swirl of bagpipes will fill the air at De La Salle Park on the third weekend of next June.
Ms Thomas, a highland dance teacher and founder of Celtic Steps School of Dance, said a committee has been struck and she hopes to lure her father off the golf course and lend some of his considerable expertise to the venture.
A talented dancer in her own right, she competed in the original games that were first held at the civic centre in 1980, attracting thousands of people.
Keeping the Scottish traditions alive are important in her family, starting at the urging of her grandfather, she said.
She started to dance while still a child and her son Matthew, 22, is an award-winning piper.
She is in Scotland this week with her student, Jamie Conrick, 15, from Holland Landing to compete in the world highland dance championship that is part of the Cowal Highland Gathering in Argyll, the largest Scottish games in the world.
Earlier this summer, Jamie placed fourth in the Canadian championship held in Victoria, B.C. Kaylee MacLelland, 15, and sister Marisa, 12, of Keswick also did well in the competition.
“I think she’ll do well,” Ms Thomas said of Jamie, who was busy practising an hour each day in addition to regular classes in preparation for this week’s competition. “There is a huge amount of stamina required for highland dance,” she said from personal experience.”
In the past, Scottish clans picked their best warriors by their ability to dance, knowing the strongest and fittest would be the best, Ms Thomas said..
Later, women would take up the tradition in more friendly competitions.
Highland dancing is physically demanding and technical and requires practice and training for several years to perfect.
Highland dancing involves not only a combination of steps, but also upper body, arm and hand movements.
Ms Thomas has also danced at the world championships in Scotland.
Dancers compete in three age categories 12 to 15 (juvenile), 16 and 17 (junior) and 18 and up (adult).
They have to do four dances: a fling, reel, sword and seann triubhas, each with its own characteristics and challenges.
Anyone interested in getting involved in creating a highland games, can contact her at cthomas@georginachamber.com