GO! Contemporary Dance Works will present a full length contemporary ballet, In the Shadows of Pine Mountain: the Scots-Irish exodus fromUlster to the hills of Appalachia at the Bijou Theatre, February 12 and 13th, 2022.

This ballet celebrates the strength and beauty of the Scots-Irish culture without forgetting their struggles with the enormous unrest of tyranny, persecution and famine. They fought not only against the king’s tyranny, but against losing their physical connection with their heritage, which attributed to their exodus to the Appalachian Mountains in the 1700’s.

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Known for its innovative style, GO!’s original and diverse choreography crosses genres of dance to take its audience on this historical and enchanting journey. Act one is visually stunning with lively, fun Irish and Scottish dancing, developing into emotionally charged scenes about rebellion and survival. Act two includes all the favorites of Appalachian history, moving fromlight hearted topics such as the moonshiners and revenuers, washboard bands and porch parties, to the darkness and depth of the coal mines.

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This landmark achievement includes a cast of 50 dancers and seven choreographers with authentic and elaborate costuming and set design. Acelebration of Scots-Irish and Appalachian music, this ballet includes favorites such as Masons Apron, Miss McCleods Reel, Wayfaring Stranger, In the Pines, Down totheRivertoPray,andYou’llNeverLeaveHarlanAlive. The Knox County Jug Stompers will play live music pre-show and at intermission.