News August 2023

Hello dear Dancers,

We hope this newsletter finds you all dancing with joy and embracing the beauty of movement in your lives.

The sun graced us with its presence here in Scotland, making for a wonderful weekend of dancing on the green to traditional dances.

Next weekend, I am thrilled to share the delightful dance from the Armenian diaspora dances, as I teach alongside Francecea. It promises to be a lovely experience!

The last Centrepiece online session was an absolute blast, and we couldn’t have asked for a better time dancing live from the community in the sunshine room. Being together in person with all the lovely teachers was such a wonderful experience! We were blessed to have special guests like Laura Shannon and Chrissandra Harris and their talented musicians, creating enchanting moments on the dance floor. Hazel Young led us in a lovely dance that filled the room with a magical atmosphere.

But the surprises didn’t stop there! Barbara Swetina and Sheila Petite treated us to a mesmerizing harp performance together, adding a touch of grace to our dance journey. And the joy was palpable as we were also joined by Pete Morton online, providing beautiful live music, and Barbel in person teaching us a dance. The support and presence of everyone made it truly special, proving that our community is all about sharing space, enjoying dance, and creating unforgettable memories together.

Mark your calendars for the Edinburgh Festival on 19th August, where we have the pleasure of working with wonderful presenters see list below. Let’s come together and create some magic on the dance floor! We are excited to be part of this international festival, and we can’t wait to see you there. Tickets will be available on the door, but please let us know if you plan to attend so we can make sure there’s enough space for everyone.

The next online “The Centrepiece” is on 23rd Sept keep it marked in your diary!

The Findhorn Sacred Dance Festival was a whirlwind of dance and connection. It was so nice to meet you all in-person! One of my highlights was teaching the Highland Schottische with the lovely Renata Ramos, transporting me back to teaching in Brazil with passion and joy! Teaching Ceilidh alongside Peter and Chris Stepien, was an absolute pleasure. Rory O’Connell & Emma Holdernesse provided the wonderful live music for the evening. I love the sound of the bagpipes when dancing how wonderful.

I was also honoured to teach Powerplant with live music and song, alongside the inspirational Barbara Swetina. This was a great night with singing and dancing to live music. Dance festivals hold a special place in my heart, and I cherish every moment spent with you all.

Unfortunately, I had to leave the festival early to attend my training with Friedel Kloke Eibl in Germany. This felt important to me as it was with a wonderful music teacher called Claartje Kocken, who was very good and had us sing and dance to one of Friedel’s dances. It was amazing to take part in! I felt I learned a lot and also danced new dances, which I am excited about.

We have some exciting projects and events in the pipeline see below with more coming, including the Findhorn Flower Essence dances project with Renata Ramos. It’s been a joy to work on this special project, and we can’t wait to launch my new dance soon! Inspired by Scotland’s Myth of the Thistle, I am taking the courage (thistle is the essence of courage) to teach this dance to you all.

Thank you all for being part of this incredible journey with us. Your support and presence are what make The Centrepiece so special. Let’s keep dancing, connecting, and spreading the joy of movement together!

With love from Scotland

Brant

P.S.

Friedel’s video gift

Don’t forget to check out the exclusive video of the Eight Pointed Star dance on The Centrepiece YouTube Channel, generously provided by Friedel & Saskia, who has always been a supportive presence in our dance community. Keep dancing and shining bright! here

Training in Germany

I really hope to continue with Freidel’s training. It is a hard financial commitment from Scotland and I humbly ask for any help on my GoFundMe to allow me to continue the training. It’s not easy to ask for financial support but every donation is very much appreciated. My passion is to try my hardest to attend the training on each occasion, however I am currently facing difficulties with this side of my life, but I am a great believer that the beloved will provide while I am in this situation.
As I continue to navigate festivals, rehearsals, and community work, I am grateful for all the contributions that help me run The Centrepiece and cover the upcoming Zoom costs. If you feel inclined to support us, please consider contributing.