Julie Fitzgerald -Canadian Champion Fiddler and Step Dancer from Bancroft, ON
-ONLINE VIDEO LESSONS NOW AVAILABLE HERE: http://juliefitzgerald.ca/online-step-dance-lessons/
-In-person lessons in Toronto, ON Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3K0mpucA7BY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBiHZ9cEQOk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npnJbHkbxjc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toMJNEXO-Ak
Juli
e Fitzgerald is an accomplished fiddle player and step dancer from Bancroft, Ontario. Since her early days of old-time fiddle, she has diversified and become an accomplished fiddle player of many styles. She is a member of the family group “Everything Fitz: The Fitzgerald Family.”
Julie has been in high demand for both her fiddling and dancing as a performer in various groups across North America. She has had the opportunity to perform internationally with many of her lifelong musical ‘idols’ including Leahy, Natalie MacMaster, members of Stepcrew & Bowfire,Troy MacGillivray and Wayne Rostad. While touring with The StepCrew, Julie has also had the opportunity to share the stage with Sharon Shannon, We Banjo 3, Carlos Nunez, Solas, and Eileen Ivers. Julie just graduated from Humber College (Toronto) for the Bachelor of Music program where she received the Ron Collier Award for her excellence in arranging. Julie’s love of passing on the Canadian traditional music and dance led to the creation of her first (and certainly not the last!) instructional step dance DVD. Whenever she is taking a break from touring, Julie teaches private dance and fiddle lessons to students in the Peterborough area. She also enjoys teaching at music camps, including the Leahy Music Camp (Lakefield, ON). Because of her experience as a touring musician, she realizes how many people across North America are introduced to, and interested in learning more, about Canadian step dancing. In response to this observation, she is now offering online step dance instruction directly off of her website! Julie’s innovation and passion for performing and teaching Canadian step dancing and fiddling will keep your toes tapping, your brain working, and keep you smiling! Source: http://www.pembroke.ca/tourism/fiddling-and-step-dancing/brief-history/
Ottawa Valley Style stepdancing originated in the Ottawa Valley which includes a large area North of Ottawa and a small area across the river on the Quebec side. This dance is very different than the other two styles of stepdancing, but still has influences from the Scottish and Irish. The Ottawa Valley style is characterized by the constant aggressiveness of the dance and the steps are danced high off of the floor. The better dancers include a wide variety of steps and different moves in their routines so that no step looks similar to another. The dancers’ legs look very "rubber like" and much coordination is required of the legs, feet and ankles. A distinguishing factor in this style is that there, is use of the dancers arms. Arms are controlled to an extent but because this dance is done high off of the floor, arms are placed out from the dancers body and are used to naturally flow with the dancers movements. This emphasizes the aggressiveness and energy of the dance and is as much a part of the dance as the feet are. Both men and women dance the same dances and also compete against one another in contests. Clogs and two-steps are often danced in this style more commonly compared with the other two styles of dance. There is no required costume to be worn for this dance. The individual may chose his/her own wardrobe for contests and shows in which it is fairly conservative and dressy. Contest Dancing
Contests are a big focus for many stepdancers and fiddlers alike. There are many contests around the Ottawa Valley in the summer and a few throughout the winter. Competing is used to encourage dancers and fiddlers to dance and play and helps keep the tradition alive. Contests are mostly made up of solo dancers of all ages; however, there is a category for group dance also. Solo dancers are required to dance a routine made up of a clog, jig and reel danced consecutively in that order. The routine cannot go over 4 minutes or a bell will ring and judging will cease at that time and the dancer will be docked marks. Competitors are judged 25% on timing, 25% on variety of steps meaning that the steps in the routine incorporate different footwork and different beats. Twenty-five percent of the mark is on the execution of steps or clarity of steps and the last 25% is on showmanship which takes in the presentation as a whole.
