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The Aberdonian Lassie with Sabra MacGillivray

Online Dance Course

Sabra MacGillivray
Release Date: Summer 2019

$60.00 CAD

The Aberdonian Lassie is one of the solo Hebridean dances taught to me by Dr. Mats Melin while I was studying my Master of Arts in Traditional Dance Performance at the University of Limerick. There are 6 steps in this dance, and l teach each step, broken down, at slow speed without music to begin. And then we pick up the tempo and put it to the music. You have access to all the videos at once, so you can learn at your own pace, and you have the videos to go back to for review. The steps have similarities to the Highland Fling, but also steps of a percussive nature, so I teach the steps in a hard shoe, although the dance can be done in either hard or soft shoe. 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 which outlines all 6 steps of this 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”.


Beginner Step Dancing with Sabra MacGillivray

Online Dance Course

Sabra MacGillivray
Released: 2019

$99.00 CAD

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. 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, which will be coming in the future! Happy dancing!

The National Dances

Highland Dancing Music From Nova Scotia (CD)

Sabra & Troy MacGillivray
Released: 2011

$19.95 CAD

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.

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Also available on iTunes

Musicians:

Sabra MacGillivray – Bodhran
Troy MacGillivray – Fiddle, Piano, Bass, Banjo
Jake Charron – guitar
Heather MacIsaac – Highland Bagpipes, Whistles
Scott Ferguson – Percussion

Gaelic In The Feet

Scottish Stepdancing for Beginners (DVD)

Sabra MacGillivray
Released: 2011

$24.95 CAD

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.”

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