“First Footing” was a tailor-made step dance residency with international percussive dance artist and dance researcher Nic Gareiss, which took place from September 2018 to June 2019.  The residency was facilitated by the Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland in partnership with the University of Edinburgh – Institute for Sport, Physical Education & Health Sciences, Moray House School of Education & School of Scottish Studies.

In Scottish folklore, First Footing is the custom of the first person to enter a household on New Year’s Day, seen as a bringer of good fortune for the coming year.

Rooted in collaboration across dance and music communities, traditional and contemporary practices, this residency spanned arts organisations, educational institutions and community groups to foster deeper levels of engagement, connectivity and encouraged support for traditional dance in Scotland.

Nic engaged with communities through partner facilitated dialogue, dance research, high-profile and community performances, workshops, masterclasses, knowledge, and pedagogical exchange.  (Scroll down to view some of the engagement and professional development events for dancers and musicians that were held.)

The Residency was supported by Creative Scotland.

One of Dance Magazine’s 2019 “25 to Watch,” dancer and dance researcher Nic Gareiss has been hailed by the New York Times for his “dexterous melding of Irish and Appalachian dance” and called “the most inventive and expressive step dancer on the scene” by the Boston Herald.

His work re-imagines movement as a musical practice, recasting dance as medium that appeals to both eyes and ears.

He draws from many percussive dance traditions to weave together a dance technique facilitating his love of improvisation, traditional footwork vocabulary and musical collaboration.

Michigan-born, Gareiss holds degrees in anthropology and music from Central Michigan University and earned his MA in Ethnochoreology at the University of Limerick. His MA thesis, based upon ethnographic work with LGTBQ competitive step dancers, was the first piece of scholarship to query the experience of sexual minorities within Irish dance.

Gareiss’ essay, ‘An Buachaillín Bán: Reflections on One Queer’s Performance within Traditional Irish Music & Dance‘ appears in the book Queer Dance: Meanings and Makings edited by Clare Croft (Oxford University Press)

A rolling programme of events for dancers and musicians took place throughout the residency and the TDFS continues to partner with organisations and groups across the country to bring activity to local communities.  Events included:

• 26 Jan, Glasgow: Celtic Connections
  Dance the Tune Workshop
• 26 Jan, Glasgow: Kelvingrove Dancers
  Appalachian Clogging and Flatfooting Workshop
• 27 Jan, Glasgow: Celtic Connections
  Dance the Tune Workshop
• 27 Jan, Glasgow: Kelvingrove Dancers
  Step Dance Technique & Improvisation Workshop
• 27 Jan, Glasgow: Celtic Connections
  Alasdair Fraser Quintet, New World Assembly
• 29 Jan, Glasgow: Celtic Connections
  DuoDuo Concert
• 2 Feb, Glasgow: Celtic Connections
  LGBT+ Voices in Conversation
• 3 Feb, Glasgow: Celtic Connections
  LGBT+ Voices in Folk
• 5 Feb, Edinburgh: University of Edinburgh
  Chinese New Year (Solo Concert)
• 7 Feb, Glasgow: Kelvingrove Dancers
  Step Dance Workshop
• 9 Feb, Fort William: Fèis Lochabair
  Step Dance Workshop & Ceilidh
• 22 Feb, Edinburgh: Queen’s Hall
  Mairi Campbell & The Pendulum Band
• 24 Feb, Perth:
  Step Dance Education in Scotland
  Day of Conversation & Professional Development for Step Dance Teachers.
• 2-3 Mar, Aberdeen: Feerochie
  Weekend of Percussive Dance with Feerochie, Kae Sakurai, Aneta Dortova, Toby Bennett & Nic Gareiss
• 4 Mar, Edinburgh: Queens Hall
  Homecoming 2 – Return of Mackay’s Memoirs
• 7 Mar, Glasgow: Kelvingrove Dancers
  Step Dance Workshop (for dancers with percussive dance experience) 
• 21 Mar, Edinburgh: St. Leonard’s Close
  First Footing Sharing of Work in Progress
• 28-31 Mar, Lismore Island: Sound of Dance Project
  Dance & Music Residential Weekend with Nic Gareiss & Mairi Campbell
• 4 Apr, Edinburgh: St. Leonard’s Close
  First Footing Sharing of Work in Progress
• 6 Apr, Edinburgh: Storytelling Centre
  Playing for Dance Workshop for Musicians
• 7 Apr, Edinburgh: Dance Base
  Percussive Dance Lab
• 8-12 Apr, Isle of Skye: Sabhal Mòr Ostaig
  Step Dance with Nic Gareiss – The Art of Treepling
• 9 Apr, Isle of Skye: Seall
  Easter Concert & Ceilidh with Hamish Napier, John Somerville, Ross Martin & Eilidh Shaw
• 13 Apr, Inverness: Fèis a Bhaile
  Step Dance Workshop
• 14 Apr, Edinburgh
  Step Dance Workshop
• 18 Apr, Glasgow: Kelvingrove Dancers
  Step Dance Workshop (for dancers with percussive dance experience)
• 27 Apr, Dumfries: Fèis an Iar Dheas
  Step Dance Workshop & Performance (free, donations welcome)
• 28 Apr, Glasgow: The Work Room
  Percussive Dance Workshop & Dance Research Laboratory
• 4-5 May, South Uist: Ceolas
  Moladh Uibhist, Song & Dance Conference
• 6 June, Glasgow: Kelvingrove Dancers
  Step Dance Workshop
• 7-9 Jun, Edinburgh
  The Art of Treepling mini festival culminating the First Footing step dance residency

For more information about this project:

Contact Joanne Urwin, TDFS Development Officer: info@tdfs.org or call 0131 558 8137