Destinations

These highland dancers and band members travelled to Scotland on the strength of their talent—and had a blast!

It all began with a flip of the channel. We paused to watch the images of heavyweights tossing cabers above their heads, dancers taking to the stage in a rainbow of tartans, and heard the power of the bagpipes. It was a highland games.

Memories were jogged of stories my father had told me of his long-gone grandparents who, unknown to each other, emigrated separately from Scotland to Canada just before the First World War, one by force, one by choice, eventually meeting and marrying, and settling down in southern Ontario.

My daughter Madison, who was four at the time, was watching the program with us and, as the dancers bounced about, the thought occurred to my husband and me, wouldn’t it be nice to expose her to a culture that’s part of her family history? The next day I picked up the phone and made an inquiry; soon after, she began her first highland dance class.

Fast- forward 12 years later: Madison, now a competitive highland dancer and tenor drummer in training, had the opportunity this past summer to participate in dance competitions and perform in shows overseas, in the very country from which her distant grandparents hailed. Add in my son

Zaidan now a juvenile piper, and my husband Mark a tenor drummer, also of Scottish ancestry, and it feels like our family has come full circle.

The Rob Roy Pipe Band and Highland Dancers of Kingston, Ont., is one of the few groups that produce both musicians and dancers within the same organization. In fact, many of the highland dancers also double as band members, benefitting from the comprehensive teaching programs that appeal to students of all ages and abilities.

Formed in 1953 after breaking away from the 11th Medical Corps, the newly independent group went their own way without sponsorship to tread new ground, choosing the name Rob Roy, after the renowned Scottish outlaw Rob Roy MacGregor, a renegade to the English, and a folk hero to the Scots. The group has remained a solid organization ever since, and continues to grow.

This year was no exception to its testament of strength, endurance, and passion, making 2016 one of the most successful years in the organization’s history. Starting in the spring, the band had a mission. The group’s surging momentum set the pace for the summer competition scene, earning Ontario Champion Supreme, and ending as North American Champions at the Glengarry Highland Games in Maxville, Ont. The band went undefeated in Canada at their competition level, yet there was still more to accomplish. This year all roads would lead to Scotland. The band and dancers, along with several supporters, travelled to Scotland to participate in various highland games, to take part in prestigious shows and to compete in the World Pipe Band Championship in Glasgow. 2016 was the perfect year to go, as the band was at the top of their game and the dancers had perfected their moves. All the pieces were falling in to place to make this a summer to remember.

Although the main focus was to compete and

represent our city, country and all those who had worked so hard over the course of the year, it wasn’t all business. There was a little bit of free time for some fun!

On our days off, my family travelled to the majestic highlands, and rode the Harry Potter Train— officially known as the Jacobite Steam Train— over the picturesque Glenfinnan Viaduct. We wandered the hills of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, and filled any spare moments in between with visits to various museums, all the while sharing the experiences not only as a family, but with our friends in the organization, too.

There were a lot of firsts for us on this journey. It was the first time my kids had been off the North American continent, the first time they’d been on a plane, and the first time we’d taken a family vacation together for longer than a few days. Everywhere we went, the locals were just as interested in Canada as we were in Scotland. People wanted to take pictures and chat, a wee taste of fame for the group.

When it was time to get down to business, everyone was hard at work. The group performed shows in the city of Dundee, for Piping Live in Glasgow, and tourists at Inveraray Castle. We covered a lot of ground, east to west, highlands to lowlands, in streets and in gardens. They participated in highland games in Perth, Bridge of Allen, Brodick and North Berwick. The dancers performed with gusto in the shows, and placed exceptionally well individually in competitions, all the while the band was able to fine tune their sound and compete in their own competitions, getting ready for the big one.

The World’s in Glasgow was held on a chilly day, and the skies were periodically overcast. The band gave it their best shot and ultimately made it to the finals. Our numbers gathered and rallied around the band as they took to the competition field one last time. The moment was bittersweet, finally reaching the moment they worked so hard for yet knowing it was almost over; for some this was their last time as a Rob Roy member.

As with all results, you hope, you pray and you wish for the very best outcome possible. The finale was broadcast live on the BBC, and took place before a crowd of thousands. It was a thrill to watch Rob Roy enter the field and see their image projected on the big screen. The rest of us, the supporters who tagged along with our family and friends, bit our nails and shuffled our feet in anticipation, as we waited for the announcer to settle it all.

The result—eighth place in their field. It was a great run.

Even though Rob Roy didn’t bring home the title of World Champion, the group did bring home something greater than any object or title could provide—lasting friendships, exciting experiences, precious memories and the gift of sharing music and dance with others who love it just as much as they do.

Now instead of watching the highland games, we’re living it! n