Dancing student bookends pandemic with Murrayfield performances

A GCU student has been reflecting on performing in front of an audience of 65,000 people – not once, but twice!

In February 2020, final year Multimedia Journalism student Erin Maguire took her love for Highland dancing to another level when she performed with Flings and Things for the Six Nations rugby match between Scotland and France at Murrayfield. Two years - and a global pandemic - later, Erin found herself in the exact same situation once again.

She said: “It definitely felt a wee bit full circle, but in a really nice way. The first time we did it there was real anxiety about covid and some of the women’s six nations fixtures had been canceled – we were really lucky to perform. Everyone has obviously been through a lot in the last couple of years and we’ve not been able to dance or see each other. For us to all come together at such short notice, and for it all to go so well at the exact same game, I suppose it was almost poetic!”

Having danced from a young age, Erin was keen to take up the chance to perform on both occasions with Flings and Things – one of the world’s most famous highland dance groups, who have graced the likes of the 2014 Commonwealth Games and New York Tartan Week.

Erin said: “Most of my time with dancing has been focused on competing but over the last few years I’ve had the chance to get involved in non-competitive opportunities, which has been really fun.

I decided to put myself forward for this back in 2020 and then jumped at the chance to do it again this time around. It was a pretty simple process, I just had to fill out an application form and basically explain a bit about my background in dancing.

I started doing Highland dancing when I was four, which was seventeen years ago, and I’ve just been doing it ever since. I go to the Maryann McCreadie School of Highland Dancing in Paisley - it was great that there were a few of us involved with Flings and Things on both occasions.”

With the pandemic pushed to one side, Erin and 80 other dancers were planning the performance for their second stint at Murrayfield – but there was to be another setback before everything eventually fell into place for the final show.

Erin explained: “Our first rehearsal was meant to be in February but it was called off due to storms, so in the end we only had one rehearsal.

We were split into two groups, and only had a couple of hours to learn the routine. On the day was the first opportunity we got to try it together, so it was testament to the dancers and directors that it all came together so well.”

She added: “Honestly, when we came out to do it, it was the best feeling in the world! You forget there are so many people there because you’re so caught up in the atmosphere. It’s just such a nice feeling that you’re able to bring something you love to such a big audience – and to do it with people that you’ve danced with for years makes it all the more special.

Even though it felt really good when we were doing it, I did wonder what it all looked like from the stands. I watched a video back and I was actually really impressed and surprised at how good it looked, given we didn’t have much time to put it together.”

By Ross Clark                  
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