DANCING flamenco in a kilt? Not possible! But it is – and was, and will be! A world premier took place in the tiny village of Juzcar last Spring. And it will be happening again this year.

Hotel Bandolero, Juzcar was, in April 2009, the venue for the first ever short course in Scottish Gaelic song and language held by well known Scottish Gaelic singers Fiona J Mackenzie and Gillebride Macmillan and it has to be said, a fantastic time was had by all - tutors, students and hotel staff alike. But why Gaelic? What is Gaelic anyway? Surely it’s a dead language (if you’ve heard of it at all).

Gaelic is the native language of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, with no connection to England or the English language, and was originally the language of the Scoti settlers from Ireland to Scotland, then becoming the language of the majority of Scotland when it replaced the other languages of Cumbric, Pictish, Old Norse and even Old English. It became Gaelige in Ireland. The Gaelic (in Scotland pronounced Gah-lik as opposed to Gay-lik) has an extremely rich and beautiful oral and written tradition, largely due to it having been the language of the bardic culture of the Highland clan system for many years. The Gaelic tongue however suffered particularly badly after the Battle of Culloden in 1746, when the Highlanders and their traditions were persecuted, also during the Highland Clearances. The number of Gaelic speakers has dropped from 289,798 (in a population of 1,265,380) in 1755 to 60,000 (in a population of 5,062,011) in 2001. However there has been a strong revival in attempts to develop and establish the language as a working, community language again. The bardic (or poetic) and singing traditions of Gaelic have retained their profile despite the struggle of the spoken word and in fact are increasing in their popularity, not just in Scotland but throughout the world, moving in parallel perhaps to the developments in the political and social independence of Scotland.The Gaelic Arts themselves had played an immensely important part in the re-development of the Gaelic language. The ultimate aim is to have Gaelic declared an official language of Scotland with equal rights as English, as is Welsh in Wales.

Everyone in the world will be acquaint with at least one Gaelic word - whisky! This comes from the Gaelic word ‘Uisge-beatha’ which means the ‘water of life’. And the heart of Gaelic life is music, dance and song - as it is in Andalucía. The Gaelic language is a very musical and rhythmic language and is very akin to many variants of Spanish, both in tone and in frequency. Dancing forms a major part of Gaelic culture as does flamenco in this part of Spain and Gaelic has its one vocal form of dance music, called ‘puirt a beul’ – or ‘mouth music’. The dance itself has slower and faster forms and is very percussive, like flamenco - in fact, Hebridean Step dancing uses foot sounds, like the castanets, to emphasise the rhythm of the song. Many of the songs have their own distinct foot patterns and you must never use the wrong pattern in such a dance! Flamenco song also has a peculiar familiarity to Gaelic singers - the passion and stories are as familiar to the Gael as it is to the natives of the Andalaucian countryside.

It is a fact that Gaelic song also often features references to Spain and its passionate people and more often - its ‘excellent wine’! This shows the impact that the Gaels had on the European trading routes when they were great sailors and travelled as merchants and traders throughout the world, but particularly to the shores of Spain. And it is not only in trading and economics that there were strong connections. Politics proved a common ground too. Witness the story attached to Teba, north of Ronda. In 1330, when the village was under siege by the armies of King Alfonso X1 who was campaigning to recapture the area which was currently under control of the Moors, the Scottish warrior Sir James ‘Black’ Douglas, was called upon to lend his armies weight to strengthen the King’s forces. Sir James, on Crusade to the Holy Land, was taking the heart of his own king, ‘Robert the Bruce’ to his desired last resting place. Although he fought bravely for King Alfonso and died in the battle, he encouraged all the forces on further by hurling the silver casket with Bruce’s heart in it, into the Moor forces. The heart was recovered and returned to Scotland. The Scots continued to support King Alfonso one year later, when the Scottish Crusader Army led by the Earl of Selkirk again engaged the Moors in battle, leaving behind a large slab of Scottish marble. This marble now forms the basis of an imposing monument to Black Douglas in the middle fo Teba - a strange and intriguing place of interest.

Other forms of Gaelic song are equally rhythmic in their style – particularly work songs which involve strong rhythmic patterns intertwined with stories of everyday village life - much like any other culture’s work song tradition. There are strong connections between the Gaelic music culture and the musical traditions of Spain – in piping for example as well as dance. The bagpipes are Scotland’s national instrument- both the large ‘Highland’ pipes and the smaller elbow or bellow pipes, so beloved of Galician artists such as the incredible Carlos Nunez on his ‘gaita’. The major international Celtic Connections festival in Scotland every January, always features a strong participation of Galician artists and these usually feature truly incredible ‘crossover’ concerts, blending traditional Scottish music and artists with the best of artistry from Spain. These are always the most popular of all the large concerts at the festival and provide vivid, passionate and exciting contrasts - and similarities - of musical texture, Celtic passion and glimpses of shared pasts.

Without a doubt there is a Gaelic heart in the Spanish Heartland – and that heart will be singing to the rhythm of flamenco in Juzcar this Spring – come and join in with the activities, dance, song and stories and celebrate or close cultures. The course will take place in Juzcar between April 28 and May 2, based in the Hotel Bandolero. Participants can learn Gaelic and Gaelic song under the lemon trees, improve your Spanish (one of the tutors is also a fluent Spanish speaker), and drama - or just enjoy the culture and participate in a real Scottish cèilidh complete with shortbread and drams of Uisge Beatha - Whisky!

For more information visit: www.fionamackenzie.org/Events

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Flamenco In A Kilt?
Friday, 12 February 2010
DANCING flamenco in a kilt? Not possible! But it is – and was, and will be! A world premier took place in the tiny village of Juzcar last...

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