Instructional &
Informational Posts
After two knee replacements, Burton MacIntyre is still dancing and travelling all over the world. He dances and calls square dancing sets from Cape Breton Island to Cuba. Oh, and he’s in his 70s.
Why did you start dancing?
Let’s go back to my first square dance, when I was around 13 or 14 years old. At that time dancing was more of a social thing. It grew on me more and more to the point of thinking, “Hey, I really like this.” So I began to go to more dances and then got into a circle of music. I had an interest in Celtic music and wherever there’s music, there’s usually dance. Now when I arrive at a place, people always expect a square set!
At the Celtic Colours Festival last year in St. Ann’s, at the Festival Club, at around 3:00 am I ended up getting a square set going. So I was given a pass to go for the next 3 or 4 days to get square sets going!
Tell us about the square dancing scene on Cape Breton Island.
The majority of the square dancing is done in the summertime, from the end of June up until the end of August. Plus Celtic Colours, which is in October. All the places that have regular dances during the summer will put on a dance during that week. But the West Mabou dance, for example, takes place year-round in wind, rain or snowstorm!
Some places like the Judique Interpretive Centre, when they have their céilidhs [a gathering of music, dance, and singing], they always have square dancing. Some people go to the céilidhs to square dance, which is great! Also down in Sydney there’s a few clubs, like the Cedars Club, and they’re doing really good square dances.
What are the sets like?
In various parts of Cape Breton, they dance differently. As an example, last year they had a square dance down at the Big Fiddle [in Sydney], so I had to stick with the Sydney set because if I tried to do the Cape Breton set, that’s not what they are familiar with.
What’s the best part of calling square dance sets?
When everyone is having a good time. You can tell by the smiles on their faces. And that’s what it’s all about, right?
Where have you travelled to in the last year?
I’m going to a new festival this year in Maine called Crossroads Festival; they want me there for a week. Last year I was in Ireland and then spent 9 days in Scotland. I was down in Philadelphia in February. I’m getting around! And I’ve been to Celtic Connections in Glasgow 10 times in the last 12 years.
We’re exhausted just talking to him!
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Lori Henry travels the world with a kooky sense of curiosity and a discerning radar for accountability. She covers destinations where you can let loose, while still remembering to take care of the places you visit. Her latest book is Dancing Through History: In Search of the Stories that Define Canada. Follow her other travels at www.LoriHenry.ca.
