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The Gathering 2009 International Championship
2 February 2009
Scottish Highland Dancers across the world are being invited to take part in a prestigious international Championship this summer which has attracted a record level of sponsorship. The Gathering 2009, in association with the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing, has created a one-off Highland Dance Championship as part of the greatest international clan gathering which takes place in Edinburgh on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 July.
The Gathering 2009 International Championship will benefit from the largest ever sponsorship deal for this iconic form of Scottish dance. The substantial five-figure sum from the Perthshire-based highland wear company The House of Edgar has been match funded by Arts & Business New Arts Sponsorship Grant, with additional funding from three dance examination bodies, the United Kingdom Alliance, the British Association of Teachers of Dancing, and the Scottish Dance Teachers’ Alliance.
Hundreds of dancers of all ages and ability are expected to participate in the two-day event within the Highland Games being held in the capital’s Holyrood Park. The championship is open to dancers from the age 4+ category to the 16+ category, at primary, beginner, novice, intermediate, pre-championship and championship levels.
Blair Macnaughton, Managing Director of main sponsor The House of Edgar, said: “We are delighted to be associated with this, the premier dancing event of the Homecoming year. We have always believed in developing Scottish traditional arts, and particularly piping and dancing. In an era when so many children are criticised for sitting in front of computer games, it is fantastic to support those young people who not only spend their free time being active but who are also preserving Scotland’s heritage.”
The Gathering 2009, which is a celebration of the culture and history of Scotland, is a signature event of Homecoming Scotland 2009. In addition to two days of Highland Games and Scottish festival in Holyrood Park, there will be a clan parade along the Royal Mile culminating in an historic pageant at Edinburgh Castle on Saturday 25 July. One hundred and twenty eight clan and family societies will be taking part and around 40,000 people from the UK and across the world are expected to attend.
Co-director of The Gathering 2009, Lord Sempill, said: “John Knox once derogatorily referred to one of my ancestors as "the dancer". He disapproved of the habit, and probably would have banned it if he could! Fortunately, this great tradition is alive and well, and practiced all over the world. The dancers are an integral component of all highland games and they will add a wonderful blend of youth and colour to The Gathering 2009.”
Shendl Russell, President of the SOBHD, added: “We are immensely thankful to The House of Edgar and Arts & Business for their involvement as this is an enormous sum of sponsorship for a Highland Dance event. This will add to the excitement for the dancers who are extremely dedicated as it means the rewards will be greater. They have the chance to showcase Highland Dancing to a large international audience as part of this celebration of Scottish culture which will hopefully increase interest and participation in this fun and traditional form of dance.”
Each Highland dancer taking part in The Gathering 2009 International Championship will receive a commemorative medal, and trophies will also be awarded in each category. The overall best dancer of the weekend will receive The Gathering 2009 trophy and a prize worth £500 from House of Edgar.
Entry forms and further details are available from www.thegathering2009.com or by telephoning 0131 561 1323.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS:
The House of Edgar originated in Edinburgh in the 19th century as a wholesale draper to the tailoring trade in the 19th century. The Macnaughton Group, which began in Perthshire in the late 18th century, acquired the company in 1965. At that time, The House of Edgar had available a range of some 24 tartans and Four decades on, their stock range has risen from 24 tartans to more than 1000 Clan, District and Irish County tartans together with a comprehensive range of Highlandwear products. The Gathering 2009 coincides with the launch of Bruichheath, the Company’s new range of 36 tartans, particularly targeted at the dancers’ market.
Arts & Business (A & B) is the national charity dedicated to encouraging new and sustainable arts and business relationships. It is also one of the 'The Prince's Charities', a group of not-for-profit organisations of which The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Rothesay, is President. A&B delivers a range of services to both the arts and business sectors, by fostering long-term partnerships through their investment programmes, offering professional development programmes to promote the exchange and development of skills, and offering advice, training, networking and consultancy through their membership programme. The Scottish Government is providing A & B with £300,000 in 2008/9 and £300,000 in 2009/10 to encourage new business sponsorship for the arts on a £1 for £1 matching basis. Over the last two years, over a hundred businesses have sponsored the arts for the first time through the scheme, bringing in an additional £2.1 million for the arts in Scotland.
The Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing (SOBHD) was formed in 1950 to lay down quality standards for all areas of Highland Dancing. It is a representative body for all dancing organisations and associations ranging from the largest Professional Dance Teachers Associations who conduct Medal Tests and Teachers Exams to the many small local Highland Games organisations. It is the only truly international representative body to which the majority of people turn to in the Highland Dance world for advice and information, representing the vast majority of those involved in Highland Dancing around the world, and is accepted by them as the World Governing Body.
The United Kingdom Alliance of Professional Teachers of Dancing and Kindred Arts (UKA) provides a complete range of services aimed at helping, encouraging and supporting dance teachers, drama and exercise in all disciplines.
The British Association of Teachers of Dancing is a Registered Friendly Society and is represented on dance boards across the world to improve and develop the art of dancing in its many forms.
The Scottish Dance Teacher Alliance was founded in 1934 and aims to further the interest of the art of dancing in all its phases.
Homecoming Scotland 2009
1. Homecoming Scotland is funded by the Scottish Government and is managed by EventScotland the national events agency in partnership with VisitScotland, the country’s national tourism agency.
2. Homecoming Scotland 2009 aims to engage Scots at home as well as motivate people of Scottish descent and those who simply love Scotland, to take part in an inspirational celebration of our culture, heritage and some of the many great contributions Scotland has given to the world.
3.2009 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns, with the programme's design guided by Scotland's unique position as the home of Burns himself, Golf, Whisky, Great Minds and Innovations, and Scotland’s culture and heritage which lives on at home and through Scotland’s global family.
4.The budget for Homecoming is £5 million and the target is for an 8 to 1 return on investment i.e. £40 million revenue additionality.
5..For more information on Homecoming Scotland please visit: www.homecomingscotland2009.com
For further information, please contact
Iona Scott, Media/PR Manager of The Gathering 2009 on
0131 561 1328 or 07764 250268, or iona@thegathering2009.com