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Moving act by White Rock group

Members of Tam O'Shanter dancers helped raise donations for people in need in Cuba.
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Members of the Tam O'Shanter dancers perform in Cuba's Plaza de Armas


A White Rock-based dance group took their efforts to share the culture of Scottish country dancing south of the border.

Cheryl Jorgensen, of the Tam O'Shanter Scottish Country Dancers, described the opportunity to perform in Cuba as the most successful effort ever to promote the Scottish culture and heritage of Canada's multicultural fabric.

The dancers visited Old Havana, Cuba, for Haban Vieja, Cuidad en Movimiento (Old Havana, City in Motion) last month.

Participating in the international dance festival was also a chance to share some generosity.

In addition to performing several times at the festival – which hosted representatives from more than a dozen countries, including Russia, Italy, Argentina and France – the group led hundreds of Cubans and tourists in workshops, and were featured on Cuban national television.

At a joint concert at the Barcelona Cultural Centre, Jorgensen presented Alejandro Gispert Gilando, band leader of the Eduardo Lorenzo Pipeband, with instruments that had been donated by musicians in the White Rock/South Surrey area.

"Things in Cuba are very hard to come by," Jorgensen said, adding response from the Semiahmoo Peninsula to an appeal to help fill the need for medical and musical equipment was "overwhelming."

"I was just swamped," she said. "I had literally well over $1,000 worth of things."

In addition to musical instruments and accessories – from reeds and books to bongo drums and harmonicas – Jorgensen received dental products, soap and school supplies, all of which went to those who needed them most