Dance Legacies of Scotland
Dance Legacies of Scotland: the True Glen Orchy Kick, a book Jen worked on for several years with Mats Melin, was published by Routledge on December 31, 2020. The paperback edition is now available. More information about the book is available on the Routledge web site. Information about this book is also available on Mats’s Lorg Press website.
Highland Dancing Classes
Highland Dance is an athletic dance form fusing the rhythmic attack of dynamic footwork with the strength of balletic line. My classes offer a unique approach to the artistry and history of this demanding dance form. Please reach out to me if you are interested in lessons, which I offer on a private and small class-sized basis.
Other events:
Gaelic Club
The Boston Gaelic Club meets every third Sunday from September through June at the Canadian American Club in Watertown, MA. An open mic session usually featuring instrumentalists and Gaelic singers starts at 3:30 pm. It’s a fun, family-friendly gathering. Arrive at 3:00 pm to learn a chorus to a Gaelic song that we’ll sing together at the open mic!
Fall Frolic
The Albany Class of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society Boston Branch will be holding its Fall Frolic workshop and social dance weekend. I’ll be teaching workshops at this event, and am looking forward to taking part in the fun and friendly vibe this weekend is known for.
Canadian American Club Gala
The Canadian American Club will host a day-long celebration of music and dancing at its fundraiser Gala on Sunday, November 3, 2024. Performances of music and dance will be featured, and there will be opportunities to participate in fun, accessible dances as well. We plan to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Boston Gaelic Club / Comunn Gàidhlig Bhoston with a set of Gaelic songs as well. Suggested donation is $20. Hope to see you there!
Jen Schoonover is a dancer and choreographer. She teaches movement principles and dance modalities including Cape Breton Step, Highland, Ceilidh, and Scottish Country dancing. In 2017, Jen apprenticed with Step dancers Mary MacGillivray and Judy McKenzie through the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program. A book Jen cowrote with Mats Melin, Dance Legacies of Scotland: The True Glen Orchy Kick, detailing the history of Scottish percussive dancing, was recently published by Routledge.
For more information, please contact 617-901-7649 or outrageoussocks [at] gmail.com.