Final Days in Edinburgh

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009 | All Posts by Charles Chip Mc Neal | No Comments

This is the final installment of my Scotland adventure.

After 72 hours of continuous rain in Edinburgh, the sun has come out! Following weeks of work, I have two days all to myself. I’ll see a few museums and do a bit of shopping. The project was a success and everyone involved seems pleased, as am I. However, I have to admit that I’m homesick. Though I’m ready to leave, I know I’ll return again someday because Edinburgh is sort of a “home away from home” for me.

Thank you for following me on this amazing project. I hoped you learned a little bit about me, a little about Scotland, and something about the work of an arts educator. The San Francisco Ballet Center for Dance Education takes part in a lot of interesting projects, so I hope you’ll also follow me in the future, on a new adventure.

Included here a some final views of this great city.

St. Cuthbert’s Church

Greyfriars Graveyard

Dolly, the first cloned mammal, as she looked (preserved) in the National Museum of Scotland

A final image of Edinburgh Castle and Old Town, as viewed from Arthur's Seat, an extinct volcano

Tags: Edinburgh

Teaching Dance in Schools in Scotland

Friday, September 4th, 2009 | All Posts by Charles Chip Mc Neal | No Comments

The students appear fascinated by what I teach, and the educators are amazed at what is possible in the dance class. The days are long and difficult at times, but ultimately satisfying. I am so happy to find our rhythm, both literally and figuratively.

In the evenings, we teach more adult dance workshops.

The students range in age from 11-15 years old. Most have little dance experience outside of Scottish traditional dance. The classes are long, about 90 minutes each. We usually work in the gym and will teach 2 or 3 classes each day, for the rest of the week. Some of the neighborhoods we work in are wealthy, and others clearly disenfranchised. Some schools are brand new (opened this year), while others are old and decrepit. But we teach with the same zeal no matter what!

I love teaching, and I love teaching teachers. It’s extremely satisfying. Thanks to our sponsor, the Bank of Scotland! The Edinburgh Festival is pleased and I tell the team, “well done!”

Students of Royal High School in Edinburgh explore "dance space." “

Here I'm directing students to make shapes.

A group of students from Royal High School rehearse a short dance.

A final (partial) class photo at Royal High School, Edinburgh Scotland.

Tags: Edinburgh

The Teaching Begins

Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009 | All Posts by Charles Chip Mc Neal | No Comments

After a week of training, mentoring, rehearsing, and lesson planning, we are all ready to teach. Our first event is a community dance workshop for the public. About 45 people gather at the Hub in the Main Hall, the home of Edinburgh International Festival.

Finally, we can put into use the arts education best practices and refined teaching techniques that we’ve been developing. The participants are nervous and excited, and so are we, but dance has a way of bringing people together and creating a sense of community. It’s such a relief to finally get started (dancers always love it when rehearsal is over and the performance begins).

The class is a great success and the participants are truly engaged. They take risks, learn something new, and all seem to have fun. We know we’ve achieved our goals when the overall sentiment is: “when are you coming back?”

A few images from the public dance workshop at the Hub, home of Edinburgh International Festival.

Me teaching the community dance workshop.

The class in motion!

The class loosens up.

Tags: Edinburgh

Observations from the Cobblestones

Friday, August 28th, 2009 | All Posts by Charles Chip Mc Neal | No Comments

Wednesday and Thursday have come and gone quickly. Lots of rain. I was soaked much of the time. Since I was training teachers mostly for the last two days, I thought it more interesting to share with you some random thoughts and musings on Scottish life.

• It rains a lot in Edinburgh.
• There is a pub/bar on nearly EVERY corner. Really.
• Cobblestones are really hard to walk on, and you have to be very careful not to twist your ankle.
• The traffic flow is confusing. They drive on the opposite side of the street than the U.S. I have always have to look both ways, twice, then do it again.
• Scottish people are really, really nice, but don’t smile a lot, at first. If you smile, they will smile back.
• People say that in San Francisco, every view is like a picture postcard. Edinburgh is the same way.
• It can get so dark when it rains that the Scottish refer to it as “daytime darkness”.
• Scottish people love all kinds of art and they have a lot of museums in Edinburgh.
• Edinburgh Castle is so cool, it’s beyond words. I just love it. How could humans create something so glorious?
• I love Scotland.

Last but not least, here are more pictures of Edinburgh, as I walk to work each day…. with more to come in another installment.

As I leave for my walk to work... lots of cobblestones.

A view of Haymarket Square, a large public area for hanging out.

Another view from Haymarket, but here you can see Edinburgh Castle in the background.

The HUB. This is the home offices for Edinburgh International Festival. It's actually right down the road from the castle!

Tags: Edinburgh