Archive for May, 2008

Where Will Dance Take You?

Who says there’s no career in dance?

You better believe there is.

So I just got back from being best man at a big Scottish wedding in Airth Castle, Scotland. It’s just east of Glasgow, and was your typical fairy tale castle wedding:

Beautiful scenery with rolling hills as far as the eye can see…

Scotland

My date and I

a beautiful ceremony…

Ceremony

Waiting for the bride

a special song written and played just for the bride and groom…

Personalized Wedding Song

a traditional bagpiper leading the way…

Bagpipes

A friggin’ castle! One of the oldest in Scotland…

Airth Castle, Scotland

Wedding party

A beautiful cake and first dance…

Cutting the cake

First dance- awww

Fun times, a delicious dinner and fully stocked bar (to be expected- the island has more alcohol than water)

Fun times

And yes, the token black guy in a kilt. (See above)

An amazing experience? You bet! I was best man for my first dance teacher’s oldest son Mike. We go way back.

So while I was there, I got to choreograph a number at GAMTA- Glasgow Academy for Music Theatre Arts. It’s a music theatre university, with a really high success rate in the U.K. arts scene. Here’s rehearsal footage from the tap piece I did:

Also while I was there, I got to perform for the Head Coach of Rangers FC, and for the First Minister! He’s like our Prime Minister. I performed with older students of the school for the Kidney Research foundation, and did a tap dance to Mr Bojangles, with a live singer Gianni- who also graduated from GAMTA.

GAMTA directors

And had dinner with the performers, the directors of GAMTA (above; Stuart, Shaaron, and my teacher Heather far right),

Carla, me, Nieve, Gianni

And my friends Carla (left) and Nieve (yellow dress) who’s the reigning Miss UK. Gianni is the slick dude on the right. Oh- I should mention Nieve’s also a dancer, and GAMTA graduate. Niiice.

So. Who says dance can’t take you places?

If you want it, believe you can. Believe.

You never know when- or where- an opportunity is waiting for you!

- SB

www.ShawnByfield.com

5 comments May 21, 2008


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