Pomegranates Festival – The Dance Traditions of Edinburgh’s Old Town: Walk & Talk Tour

Join storyteller extraordinaire Donald Smith for a relaxed festival walk and talk tour exploring the dance traditions of Edinburgh’s Old Town, including their locations and social contexts. Learn about the local folk traditions, the Scottish Court and ‘polite’ society.

One of the most eloquent advocates for Scottish culture, including trad dance, Donald Smith is the 2023 recipient of the Hamish Henderson Award for Lifetime Service to Traditional Arts. A prolific author, Donald also wrote Pomegranates 2023 screen dance poetry commission Beira and Bride. Until recently the Director of Scottish Storytelling Centre and TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture), currently Donald is the Director of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival.

The Dance Traditions of Edinburgh’s Old Town walk and talk tour will start from the Scottish Storytelling Centre with a preview of the festival exhibition Vengefully Changed Allegiance by Alison Harm of Psychomoda. The tour will end at Edinburgh’s Central Library with a preview of the festival exhibition Dance Around the World featuring trad dance books and artifacts from Edinburgh and beyond.

The tour will proceed at a gentle pace but over some hilly closes in the Old Town. No prior knowledge of dance history is required. Waterproof, outdoor clothing, water bottle and sturdy shoes/boots recommended. Please note that all children under 16 should be accompanied by a parent/guardian.