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Centre of Celtic Excellence Could Yeild Positive Results For Central Newfoundland Labrador Oct 2007
Jennifer Pelley The Advertiser October 2nd 2007
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| Last updated at 9:46 AM on 01/10/07 |
Celtic centre of excellence could yield positive results for central 
JENNIFER PELLEY
Advertiser
It's hard to imagine that, after only six months, a form of dance can take off in such a big way in a community, but it's happened in central.
Irish dance, which only began in Grand Falls-Windsor a mere half a year ago, has exploded to the point where one of the leading exponents of the art will be coming to the town to work with local dancers.
Don McCarron, lead dancer with Lord of the Dance, will be lending his expertise to the Exploits River Dancers this week in an opportunity to further develop the talent that exists in this part of the province.
It is not often that such a big-name performer travels to the interior of Newfoundland, more often than not choosing to remain in the capital city, but with the whole of the province boasting a strong Celtic connection that dates back to the 1700s, it makes sense that parts of the province outside of St. John's would also appeal to Mr. McCarron.
And with dance instructor Shawn Silver, who runs iDance and Exploits River Dancers, gung-ho to turn the central region into a centre of Irish and Celtic excellence so people from all over the world can travel here to learn traditional forms of dance, art, music and language, among other things, the town should embrace the opportunities that can be realized from this sort of venture.
While it will take some time to build a centre of excellence to the point where it will be operational year round, the cultural, tourism, recreational and economic possibilities that can exist if the cards are played right by all stakeholders are endless.
People from all over the western world whose forefathers immigrated from places like Ireland, Scotland and Wales in order to find work, to escape religious persecution, or to start a new life on another continent are hungry to reestablish a connection with their roots. As a result, places like Boston College and the College of Piping in P.E.I. are filled to the brim with people eager to tie themselves to the cultures of their ancestors.
Why can't central Newfoundland have a piece of that pie?
There's no reason why it can't. We already have a culture that oozes Irishness and are known as possibly the most Irish place outside of Ireland, the tourism potential for the province is astronomical, and the market is there with those who are willing and able to travel in order to access world-class Celtic facilities.
And the response that Irish dancing - only one branch of Celtic culture - has received in the community already is evidence that there is a great deal of support here for something of this nature. Newfoundlanders are proud of all that is Irish. Just look at places like Tilting on Fogo Island, which has been designated an Irish heritage site, for proof of that statement.
The economic spin-off that could be generated for central Newfoundland could be enormous and the cultural diversity that it would bring to the region and the province as a whole would be unmatched. But it this idea is to be realized, it would require the skills and partnership of many different people and groups.
Just something to think about. | | | |
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