SA Tattoo 2012

South African Tattoo 2012:

7-9 September 2012 were special days in Johannesburg, when the talented performers took to the SA Tattoo esplanade to show South Africa the vast variety of entertainment that our people have to offer.

This year the Tattoo exhibited the Massed Pipes and Drums, Highland Dancers accompanied by Haggis and Bong, Air Force Band, Irish Dancers, Harley Davidson Display team, SA Military Health Services and SA Army Pace Sticks Team. The International act of the show was the exciting Talenhodest Gym Team from Denmark.

One of the O’Leary Studio dancers, Caylee O’Leary, took part in this magical event. Unfortunately she wasn’t one of the Highland Dancers who accompanied Haggis and Bong, but was part of the Massed Pipes and Drums as one of the Pretoria Caledonia drummers.

Pretoria Caledonia Pipe Band were joined in the Massed Pipes and Drums by the Transvaal Scottish Regiment Pipe Band, The African Skye Pipe Band, Glen Allen Pipe Band, The SA Irish Regiment Pipe Band and Sandton Scottish Pipe Band.

The Massed Pipes and Drums played Meeting of the Waters, Highland Cradle Song and Glasgow week in Hamburg for the March On. Highland Cradle Song is a Slow March so the Massed Pipes and Drums had the challenge of slow marching, playing and trying to keep upright at the same time.

For the formation they played All the Blue Bonnets over the Border, Glendaural Highlanders, Molly Connell, Castle Rock Celeidh, Paddy’s Epic Journey, Erin Shore, Clocks and The Final Fling. In celebration of the Transvaal Scottish Regiment’s 110 anniversary, the Pipers formed the shape of  the number 110.

The March Off tune was Atholl Highlanders, the Transvaal Scottish Regiment’s regimental march (song, tune?).

The Finale held some very special moments with songs such as Wheeping, Celtic Crest, The National Anthem, Highland Cathedral and the inspiring Jurassic Park Theme Tune.

For some awesome Photos of the Tattoo visit Sandra Roniger’s Facebook Album titled South African Tattoo.

YouTube Clips:

• City Press Online: SA Tattoo 2012
• 2012 South African Tattoo – South African Flag
• 2012 South African Tattoo – Irish Dancing with music provided by Haggis and Bong – Please note that this is not Irish Dancing, it is Highland Dancing
• 2012 South African Tattoo: Finale
• SA Tattoo Harley Davidson Display Team

SA Tattoo

Here is an article about the 2012 South African Tattoo on MyFourways.co.za. It gives us information on what to expect when you go see the show. It is apparently going to be the biggest South African tattoo to date:

MyFourway.co.za: SA Tattoo

 

Assemble and Leap

The O’Leary Studio has been delayed in puting up a post about Assemble and Leap and we must apologise for the near 2 year delay. It is a spectacular Highland Dancing show that should be seen by all Highland Dancing as well as any Scottish fan. Its amazing and breathtaking to watch so many talented Highland Dancers all on one stage, showing us how beautiful Highland Dance really is. If you haven’t seen it, its an absolute must that you get hold of one! Its important, write that down.

 

 

Below we have just added some blurbs found on the internet and on the back cover of the DVD, to give you full insight on this amazing show!

 

“The Assemble and Leap Dancers were were formed in November 2010 for a charity show celebrating 60 years of the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing (SOBHD). The show was designed to celebrate the very best of Highland Dancing in the UK, and to raise awareness and funds for two very special charities – MS Society Scotland and Action Duchenne. 38 champion dancers, including multiple Scottish, British, Commonwealth and World Champions, along with 12 sensational choreographers, were brought together for this one off spectacular, the likes of which have never been seen before in Highland Dancing.

Since the astonishing success of Assemble and Leap, the dancers have been in demand all over the world, performing for Hong Kong TV, the Discovery Channel, at New York Tartan Week and the Beijing International Tourism Festival.

The Assemble and Leap DVD is still available to purchase and can be ordered through this site or via the SOBHD (www.sobhd.net) For information on the dancers and enquiries re hiring them for events, please contact the SOBHD.”

 

– Facebook

(This blurb was taken straight from Assemble and Leap’s Facebook page)

 

 

“On Saturday 13th November 2010, 38 Champion dancers from all over Scotland came together to celebrate the 60th Annerversary of the SOBHD, and to raise money for two special Charities, Action Duchenne and The MS Society Scotland. Join the audience at the Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline, to witness the very best in Highland Dancing, and be moved and inspired by the spectacular display that is…. Assemble and Leap.

 

The Dancers: Heather Adams, Elaine Adams, Gemma Baillie, Elizabeth Brown, Kirstie Brown, Nicola Brown, Joanna Buchan, Victoria Buchan, Eilidh Buchanan, Shelley Calmers, Kimberlee Couper, Maureen Dillon-Bray, Jan Louise Doherty, Jade Ferries, Colette Hanna, Ashleigh Hanvidge, Robyn Hart WinKs, Lisa Johnstone, Sara Kelly, Gillian Laird, Lisa Linton, Kelly Louise Mackinnon, Rachel McLagen, Rachel McLean, Charlene McMahon, Emily Morrison, Emma O’Hare, Sophie Oliver, Laura Smith, Rebecca Thow, Lisa Walker, Siobhan Watt, Lianne Wilson, David Wilton, Leanne Wood.

 

The Choreographers: Gemma Ballie, Dawn Fraser, Elizabeth Gollan, Nicola Grant, Christine Lacey, Gillian Lawrence, Rhona Lawrence, Douglas MacFarland, Nadine Mackenzie, James McCorkindale, rachel MacLagan, Gareth Mitchelson, Delma Wilson.

 

MC: Mr Billy Forsyth MBE

 

The DVD includes a full recording of the stage show in two acts and behind scenes footage filmed at the rehearsals

 

All profits from sales of the DVD will be donated to Action Duchenn and The MS Society Scotland“

 

– DVD backcover

The Assemble and Leap DVD is still available to purchase and can be ordered through this site or via the SOBHD (www.sobhd.net)

 

Did you notice in the Dancers List of names that Lisa Linton danced in Assemble and Leap. Lisa Linton is a South African Highland Dancing Champion. She used to live in Durban, but now she is living overseas.

 

Wouldn’t it be nice if Assemble and Leap came to South Africa? What do you think? Maybe they could come for the South African International Highland Dancing Conference? – Just a thought:)

Irish Dancing at the South African Tattoo

This year all Irish Dancers throughout South Africa have been invited to perform at the 2012 SA Tattoo to be held at Monte Casino in Johannesburg from 6 – 9 Sept 2012. They have invited all Adult (over 16) Mean Ghrád- Ard Ghrád dancers to apply to perform at this prestigious event.

The performance will consist of a combination of hardshoe and softshoe work. However the hardshoe parts will be auditioned for once the full team has been selected. The Irish Dance Performance will be Choreographed and Directed by Elinor Boyes, Shonah Robinson,  Merryl Hofmeyr and Greg Moss.

 

2012 South African Tattoo

The SA Tattoo returns this September for 4 nights only. Sold out for 3 years running, the 2012 show promises to be more spectacular than ever!

Booking for the SA Tattoo (6 – 9 September 2012) is open. Tickets can be bought via the Internet or at Computicket centres throughout the country. Prices range from R218.00 to R398.00, discounts for groups of 10 or more and children under the age of 12. For more information contact the SA Tattoo, info@satattoo.co.za

The cast will include bands of the SA Air Force and SA Medical Health Service, as well as many of SA’s top Pipe Bands. There will be two International acts will be joining the cast of the 2012 SA Tattoo. The Talentholdet Gym Team from Denmark and the O’Shea-Ryan Dancers from Australia.

Early booking also ensures best seats. So don’t delay! These tickets sell fast.

25 February 2012

Today is an important day. Firstly, its our very own teacher and dancer Gillian O’Leary’s birthday. We wish her a very big Happy Birthday. Secondly, Haggis and Bong are releasing their 2nd album Of Myth and Legend and Gillian has been asked to perform with Haggis and Bong. So if you are in Centurion this evening, why not pop into Zeplins Rock Shack, opposite Centurion Cricket Ground.

HAGGIS AND BONG Album Launch

Haggis and Bong are releasing their new album Of Myth And Legend on the 25th February 2012 at Zeplins Rock Shack in Centurion. This official album launch will start at around 7:30pm on Saturday evening and will showcase the band itself as well as some special guests. The O’Leary Studio will be there in support of this awesome band. Entrance is only R40 so we hope to see you there having a rock filled evening!

 

Burns Night

Burns Night is a celebration of the Scottish poet, Robbie Burns’ birthday (25 January 1759). This celebration is practiced all over the world. It is an evening of poetry reading, haggis eating, bagpipe playing and maybe some dancing.

On the Saturday the 28th January 2012, O’Leary Studio dancer and teacher, Gillian O’Leary perfomed at the Pretoria Country Club’s annaul Burns Night. She perfomed with grade 2’s Lyttelton Manor Pipe Band, formerly Richmond Avenue and Lyttelton Manor. This is not the first time that the O’Leary Studio have performed with this talented Pipe Band and we hope to do more performances with them in the future.

If you want Highland Dancers at your event just give us a call.

We’re Back!

The O’Leary Studio of Celtic Dance is back! And things are changing: we are now based in Centurion and our Blog is receiving a face-lift. The blog is still undergoing a revamp and needs more work but if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact us either by email or phone at:

olearystudio@hotmail.com

or

083 449 27 28

The South African Tattoo 2009

  This year one of the O’Leary Studio’s dancers, Caylee O’Leary, was involved in The South African Tattoo at Montecasino in Johannesburg. She was one of fourty South African highland dancers that were chosen to dance for this prestigious event. The show comprised of various performances from Military bands, a Massed pipes and drums, drum majorettes, Gum boot dancers, Marching bands and so much more.

The Highland Dancers performed a beautiful and inspiring dance to the tunes Piper Alpha, The Final Fling and The Rebel Piper to commemorate the 167 lives lost during a fire and explosion on an oilrig off the coast of Aberdeen. They finished the dance off by forming the shape of a Celtic Knot, which repesents the source of their inspiration – their traditional heritage.

The South African Highland Dancing Tattoo team

The Dance

The Dancers

The Celtic Knot

Practising on the Main Arena

The Dance

The Finale

The Dance

I, Caylee O’Leary, would like to thank Beverley Leahy and Melaney Smith for their very hard work in choreographing the dance as well as managing fourty dancers. It was an honour as well as an amazing experience dancing for you and for the South African Tattoo.

For more information about the tattoo visit the South African Tattoo websit at: http://www.satattoo.co.za/