Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Yukon classes now enrolling!

Great news, friends! Laura will be teaching a 6 week Scottish Highland dance class in Yukon, beginning Monday, October 8!

We are so pleased that Yukon has such a fantastic community education program for us to join! Whether Yukon resident or living close by, please take advantage of this opportunity by signing up at www.yukonceonline.com. Class information listed below:

Who: All ages are welcome!
What: A Scottish Highland dance mini-course. Students will learn several Highland dances, as well as a sampling of Scottish Country dance.
Where: The Yukon Middle School 6th Grade building
When: Monday nights from 6:30 to 7:30 beginning October 8
How much: $50 per student

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Oklahoma ScotFest 2012

This past weekend Laura and Lauren danced at Oklahoma ScotFest, joined by retired dancer/teacher Norah Dunbar and five-year-old Alora, and it was a blast!

The ladies performed traditional Highland and National dances - but with a few twists! Laura and Lauren showed off modified versions of Sailor's Hornpipe and Scottish Version of the Irish Jig and entertained audiences with dances performed to Celtic rock music, including songs by Wicked Tinkers and Red Hot Chilli Pipers. Audiences were especially wowed by a fun and fast finale - a slightly non-traditional Highland Fling set to a RHCP medley of "Smoke on the Water" and "Thunderstruck!"


Lauren recently learned the Hornpipe. Doesn't she look fantastic? :)

Laura performing one of her favorite dances, Blue Bonnets Over the Border.
 
Laura and Lauren finishing up the Hornpipe.
 
Norah, Laura, and Lauren performing the Highland Fling. The crowd loved the music!

If you have any photos or video of our dancers from ScotFest, we would love to see them! Please email ladymonscottishdance@gmail.com or tag us on Facebook.

Join the Ladymon School of Scottish Dance at Global Oklahoma on Saturday, October 6 for a mix of traditional and contemporary Scottish dance and some on-site mini dance classes! We'll be available at the USCO tent all day.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Benefits of Highland Dance


As a kid, I could've taken up the piano, or ballet, or dirt biking (there's a mental picture for you - me sprawled on the side of the track), but I took up Scottish Highland dance. And I'm glad I did, because it changed my life in ways I never would have anticipated.

Many hobbies or activities can shape other areas of your life, but Highland dance is outstanding in its benefits for dancers! Check out just a few of the benefits of this sport:

Physical benefits:
- It is a complete cardio workout
- It increases flexibility
- It works each muscle group from head to toe
- It increases endurance
- It improves posture (and even fixed my badly pronated feet!)

Mental benefits:
- It improves memorization abilities
- It builds self-confidence
- It teaches respect of self and others
- It broadens horizons by teaching world cultures

While doing this, I got to travel the US and make friends of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds. Many dancers also travel the world! The possibilities are endless for a Highland dancer.


- Laura Ladymon

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Upcoming events - September/October 2012

We've got a lot of events coming up, and we want you to join us!

September 1 - Celtic Benefit for Marilee Tussing. Laura will be dancing with the Flowers of Edinburgh (2 pm) and the Oklahoma Scottish Pipes and Drums (6:45 pm).

September 6 - Classes at the Expressions Performing Arts Academy begin, and your first class is FREE! That's right, FREE! We have classes for ages 4-12 and 13 and up. Please email or call Laura if you wish to participate.

September 15 and 16 - Laura and Lauren will be dancing at the Oklahoma Scottish Games and Gathering in Tulsa (Saturday at 11 and 4, Sunday at 11 and 2)

October 6 - Laura will dance at Global Oklahoma at Rose State College (times TBA) with Flowers of Edinburgh and Oklahoma Fire Pipes and Drums. She will also be doing short demonstrations and teaching sessions by the United Scottish Clans of Oklahoma tent throughout the day.

October 20 (tentatively) - Join us at the EPAA at NW Optimist Center for a free workshop! Time TBA.

Also in October (date and time TBA), join us in Yukon for a 6 week community education course in Scottish Highland Dance.

For information on any of these events, please contact Laura!

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Ceud Mile Failte! (A Hundred Thousand Welcomes)

Hello! And welcome to our blog. We are the Ladymon School of Scottish Dance. We are based out of the Oklahoma City metro area, and we are committed to enriching our students' lives mentally, emotionally, and physically through the art of dance.

Scottish Highland dance combines heritage, grace, and strength into one beautiful sport. It requires the endurance of a long-distance runner, the grace and flexibility of a ballerina, the confidence of public speaker, and a drive to succeed. With dedication and practice, a Highland dancer is not only ready for the competition stage, she (or he!) is ready for whatever challenges life may throw her.

We invite you to join us for a dance class to see what it's all about!


About our instructor:
Laura Venable Ladymon has been dancing for 15 years and in her competitive years won numerous medals, cash prizes, and trophies - including the honor to compete as a southwest region representative to the United States Inter-Regional (the US Highland dance national championship). She was privileged to study under one of the most sought-after Highland teachers in the world, Betty Lawrence, and under her tutelage became a BATD certified teacher. As a performer, Laura has danced for News 9 and Travel OK, at numerous concerts and festivals, and with many Celtic bands and bagpipers. She still performs regularly in Oklahoma. Laura is also a board member of the United Scottish Clans of Oklahoma and the dance entertainment coordinator for the Iron Thistle Scottish Festival.