Welcome to our Site!
Founded in 1947 and incorporated in 1978, the Manitoba Highland Dancers' Association (MHDA) is a non-profit organization run by volunteers.
This organization provides our dancers with high caliber competitions, honoraria, scholarships and workshops. We rely on membership fees, donations, grants and fundraising events. The association functions on a year round basis, coordinating 6 competitions each year (two of which are championships). The MHDA runs these competitions starting in the Fall and ending in the early summer. Each year the association runs the Manitoba Closed Championships, where dancers are selected to represent Manitoba at the Inter-Provincial Championships held each year in the month of July.
Our dancers, ranging in age from four year to adulthood, are taught by a body of certified highland dance teachers. All teachers are members of ScotDance Manitoba, a provincial affiliate of ScotDance Canada, and governed by the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing.
MANITOBA HIGHLAND GATHERING
A Manitoba Community Family Fun Event
May 22, 2008
COME CELEBRATE OUR 42nd ANNIVERSARY!!
The Manitoba Highland Gathering is Western Canada's finest
Highland Gathering! It is held in the beautiful Selkirk Park. The day
starts at 9:00 am with The Pancake Breakfast. You will be treated to the
colorful sights and sounds of a Highland Dance Competition, Pipe Band and
Individual Piping and Drumming competitions as well as Heavy Games and
the 17th Annual Provincial Marathon Canoe & Kayaking Championships. Other
attractions such as Sheep Shearing, Sheep Dog Trials, Diamond Disc Dogs,
Highland Cattle, Clan Booths to research your heritage, Wee Heavy Games
and "Wee Folks for fun and face painting, Rugby matches, as well as an
expanded
Scottish Market, Scottish Pub, The Red Lion (Scottish Food Concession)
other
food and craft vendors. RAIN or SHINE!!
Early Bird Tickets.
Bring your chair and umbrella.
Experience the centuries-old tradition of colour, pageantry and good
time!!!
Folklorama Fast Approaching…
It seems that the year flies by in the Scottish community. The
dedicated volunteers from the Pavilion of Scotland are hard at
work preparing for this year’s festival. Scotland will be in
week two, August 10th to 16th. The MHDA part of the
nightly entertainment is open to dancers of any age and ability,
from Primary to Premiere. Dancers are welcome to perform
on just one evening or every show (show times are 6:15 and
8:55 nightly). To sign up, please contact Alison Thomson at
thomson8@mts.net or add your name to the Folklorama list at
the Mid-Canada competition. The performers receive a half
price meal ticket for the evening, and dancers under sixteen
may bring one adult to assist them.
We also have great opportunities for the parents that want to
get involved. We have a variety of volunteer areas that will
allow a parent to dress their dancer and see them perform.
There is always a need for people to cover meal breaks in all
areas, as well as plenty of work clearing tables. Please
consider signing up to assist, or bring non-dancing siblings to
help out too. We have jobs for younger children as well. A
half price meal ticket and supper break will be provided to
volunteers. Please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Pat
Allan at amms@shaw.ca or 222-3836 to register.
Sarah Brown Memorial Fund
The Sarah Brown Memorial Fund will be used to support highland dance in Manitoba which was Sarah's passion. Sarah, a student of the McGregor Studio of Highland Dance and also friend of many MHDA highland dancers was recently involved in a fatal car accident. Sarah was also sister to Shawn Brown, a Lord Selkirk Boy Scout Pipe Band Alumnus. Cheque donations can be made to School of Scottish Arts, Inc. or Sarah Brown Memorial Fund and sent to c/o 3375 Vialoux Drive, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3R 0A5.
For more information, please contact School of Scottish Arts, Inc. c/o ballater@mts.net.
Fitness Tax Credit
Starting for the year 2007, Folk Dancing is included on the list of eligible activities for the 2007 Children's Fitness Tax Credit. For further information see the Department of Finance website and the Canada Revenue Agency website, and ensure you obtain your registration receipts from the dance schools.
Professional Photographer Chris Shay was present all day on May 4th to take pictures. His website is www.shayphoto.ca if you had any pictures taken.
Check out the Wanted and For Sale pages
This website is in the process of being reconstructed. If one of the pages doesn't seem right, please be patient. It is being reworked. Thank you. The Webmaster
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