Step Dance Masterclass (Wiesbaden, Germany)
Schedule
Sun Jun 07 2026 at 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
UTC+02:00Location
Fiddle and Feet School of Dancing | Wiesbaden, HE
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The WorkshopsThere are two levels of classes available. Complete beginners may wish to take only the first class. If you are a proficient percussive dancer in other step dance forms, such as Irish dancing or American tap, we highly recommend taking both classes, as the first will best prepare your feet for the more complex material in the second. To ensure you get the most out of the workshop, class sizes will be limited to 15 participants. Please bring hard-soled shoes for dancing and a bottle of water.
Workshop 1: Warm-Up & Introduction to Scottish Step Dance
10am - 11am
Discover the rhythm and energy of Scottish step dance in this fun and welcoming workshop, open to all ages and experience levels.
This session introduces foundational strathspey, jig, and reel steps in a relaxed and supportive environment. The class will include a full warm-up, an introduction to the background of Scottish and Cape Breton step dance traditions, and an overview of basic strathspey, jig, and reel steps. These will provide a strong foundation for participants continuing on to the second, more advanced workshop.
Workshop 2: Intermediate–Advanced Steps
11am - 12noon
This workshop is designed for dancers with experience in step dance or another percussive dance form. The session will follow on directly from the first workshop and will explore more intricate step patterns across strathspey, jig, and reel rhythms. Participants will work on building longer step sequences, developing new motifs, and exploring dynamics and improvisation within their practice. This workshop is recommended for those with prior dance experience.
About Sophie:
Sophie Stephenson is a dance artist, teacher and performer from the Scottish Highlands, specialising in percussive step dance. Rooted in tradition yet driven by innovation, her work explores the deep rhythmic connections between language, music and movement within Gaelic culture.Sophie has a distinctive style that blends traditional and newly created steps. She has collaborated with leading artists and groups including Capercaillie, Carlos Núñez, Dàimh and The East Pointers, and performs regularly with acclaimed flautist and uilleann piper Calum Stewart.
Hailing from Fort Augustus on the shores of Loch Ness, Sophie’s passion for the traditional arts was shaped by an upbringing immersed in cèilidh culture, music sessions and local fèisean. With an academic background in ethnology, she brings a strong awareness of the historical context of Gaelic culture, where music, song, dance, storytelling, and community are deeply interconnected, and a deep-rooted respect for tradition bearers which informs her teaching practise.
Step dance is a tradition which was retained and carried forward by Scottish emigrant communities in Eastern Canada, and Sophie is part of the legacy of its re-introduction to Scotland. She is dedicated to promoting and passing on step dance tradition through performances, teaching and creative projects across Scotland and internationally. She recently set up Sgoil Dannsa, to keep the heartbeat of Scottish Step Dance alive in the Highlands and beyond - through in-person and online classes (in both Gaelic and English), digital resources, and an interactive seminar series which connects dancers, academics, researchers and tradition bearers.
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Where is it happening?
Fiddle and Feet School of Dancing, Dantestr. 1,Wiesbaden, GermanyEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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