They may have been half a world away from home, but the Amethyst Scottish Dancers of Nova Scotia still got a Bluenose welcome.
“We had a lot of Canadians come up and talk to them. It was a touch of home, and a lot of Nova Scotians,” said Gerry MacPhail. He accompanied the all-female dance group — made up of 13 to 15 year olds — who performed in Dubai this month.
“The trip was absolutely fascinating,” said MacPhail. “We knew before we left that this would be different than any other trip — or any of us — had ever done before.
“I don’t think we knew full what to expect.”
The group was in the capital of the United Arab Emirates for more than a week this month, performing at a number of international schools, and also as part of a show at the Mall of the Emirates with Aga Boom, a Cirque du Soleil group.
“A lot of interesting conversations took place,” he said, adding they met students from around the world, and also got to find out more about Islam and visit local mosques and shrines.
“Everywhere we went was a learning experience.”
