Traditional music has been a huge component of Dawn & Margie Beaton’s lives from day one. Coming from a musical heritage of singers, dancers, and fiddlers, it was a natural progression to learn both step-dancing and the violin at an early age (4 and 6 to be exact).
Their first foray into the musical life in Cape Breton began with step-dancing. Learning at an early age beginning with lessons from their aunt Mary Janet MacDonald, and with a step-dancing lineage extending back to their great grandfather, Domhnall Mor. Dawn and Margie have kept step-dancing at the forefront of their careers and they always pay respect to that in every show highlighting those very steps learned at the knee of their grandmother. Domhnall Mor’s daughter Maggie Ann (Cameron) Beaton. The rhythm of the steps have become a focal point in the music they portray that is both lively and true to the driving beat of square dances and step-dancers
Over the years they have performed at concerts, Cèilidhs and festivals all around Cape Breton Island, mainland Nova Scotia, P.E.I. and they have appeared on numerous TV, and Radio shows on both sides of the Atlantic. Dawn and Margie also performed in numerous Celtic Colours shows over the years. Margie performed with the Celtic Crew for “The Next Generation” concert while Dawn performed at the World’s Premiere of the MacKinnon’s Brook Suite, playing with the Nova Scotia Symphony. Together, they have performed at the “Close to the Floor” concert for many years, as far back as 2001, a night of great Scottish step-dancing. The evening featured the girls dancing as soloists, in duo, the Scot’s 4 and the 8-hand reel. They’ve also taken part in a few tribute shows: one to their beloved aunt Mary Janet MacDonald in 2008 and to Sandy MacIntyre, one of their first fiddle teachers in 2009.
In 2008 they were awarded the Frank “Big Sampie” Sampson award as sponsored by the Drive’ers Association and Lakewind Sound Studio that provides financial help for first time Cape Breton recording artists. With this aid, Dawn and Margie completed and released their debut album, “Taste of Gaelic” during the Celtic Colours International Festival, in St. Ann’s, Cape Breton.2010 was a rewarding year, with a trip to China to perform and planned trips overseas to Ireland and also to the United States. Dawn and Margie were also pleased to receive a Music Nova Scotia nomination and an East Coast Music Award win for Roots/Traditional Group/Duo of the year for their first recording, Taste of Gaelic! They attended one of the largest Celtic Festivals in the world in Brittany, France. Festival Interceltique De Lorient. Only a few weeks later, Margie and Dawn travelled to Hull, England where they kicked off the Clipper ‘Round the World race 09-10 with the Cape Breton Clipper boat entry! And in late October, the girls made the trip to Brazil to welcome the Clipper into Port!
Dawn and Margie recently travelled to Scotland to participate in a three-week teaching session with the group “Dannsa” in the promotion and teaching of Scottish step-dancing. The trip allowed the girls to both perform and teach step-dancing and discuss the Cape Breton culture to school age children on the mainland of Scotland.
They were A ‘hit’ at Ceolas 2011 and we are delighted that the girls are back at Ceòlas 2012.
