As Before
As Before: Aberdeenshire Solo Dances of the Nineteenth Century recounts research into the world of 1830–1840s dancing masters, landed estates, fashions, and tunes. Initiated as comparative research of handwritten notations of solo dances from 1841, this book includes background information about the people who preserved and taught these dances, what they wore, versions of tunes extant at the time, and terminology used to teach and record them. Notable figures involved in twentieth-century interpretations of selected dances are identified, and popular misconceptions about the sources for some dances are clarified. Interpretations for each of the 14 solo dances have been formulated and instructions are included.
Material for this book was written and researched by Jen, Mats Melin, and the late Colin Robertson. As Before will have an official launch at the 2026 North Atlantic Fiddle Convention in Aberdeen! After that, it will be available from Jen and through Mats’s Lorg Press website.
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 and reviews are 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!
Summer Solstice 2026
The Revels organization is sharing a night of revelry at the Harvard Museums of Science and Culture on Sunday evening, June 21, from 5:00–9:00 pm. At the end of the evening, Jen will be calling cèilidh dances with musicians Tom Pixton and Sammy Wetstein. The event is free for all — more information is available at the Revels webpage.
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.
For more information, please contact 617-901-7649 or outrageoussocks [at] gmail.com.