New York's 'Highline' & Edinburgh Festivals Showcase High Time To Visit Scotland

New Yorkers out for a morning stroll in the Highline Park today may have heard a Scottish calling in the air. Led by local Scots-American pipers, three dancers from the Gehring dance troupe floated above the city streets while unraveling themselves from Scottish Harris Tweed and tartan. The purpose: to usher in another year of Scotland Week in New York City.

Hailing from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the performers (Lydia Phillips, Heather Gehring, and Emily Edwards) are just a handful of the many Scots and Scottish-Americans coming out for the weeklong festivities celebrating National Tartan Day on April 6.

One of many participants in the Scotland Week activities, Festivals Edinburgh, who assist American dancers interested in performing at the city's world famous Fringe, hope to bolster the events aimed at encouraging travel to Scotland. "Festivals are one of the great reasons to visit Scotland in person, and we hope this morning's beautiful performance gives New Yorkers a little taste of what they'll see at our famous Fringe Festival in July," said Fiona Stewart, VisitScotland. "And there will be more to come from Scotland around the city this week."

Leading the pack for Festivals Edinburgh during Scotland Week, Faith Liddell, Director, Festivals Edinburgh said:

"We're delighted to be working with Jodi Kaplan and VisitScotland to promote the Edinburgh Festivals in New York. 2012 is a very special year for the Festivals, with many inspiring events to tie in with the Year of Creative Scotland and the London 2012 Olympic Games as the greatest sporting event and the greatest cultural event in the world happen in the same country at the same time. There's therefore never been a better time to plan a trip to our world-famous Military Tattoo, our energetic Festival Fringe - or any of the other phenomenal festivals that light up the world's favourite Festival City."

Producer Jodi Kaplan is bringing the Gehring troupe as part of her Booking Dance Festival to The Fringe for the third annual year with an exciting array of the best dance from the USA!

"I am enthusiastic about positioning dance as a prominent art form at The Fringe and bringing the most exciting new dance artists from the USA to Scotland via Booking Dance Festival Edinburgh 2011."

Visitors wishing to experience the Edinburgh Festivals can book to come to Scotland via travel packages from the USA with Celtic Tours and Avanti Destinations.

http://www.edinburghfestivals.co.uk/summer-packages-North-America

Edinburgh Festivals offer an array of cultural event s and good value for money with shows of "Broadway" quality for as little as $10.

This morning's shoot featured dancers from the Gehring Dance Theater, who are also slated to appear at this year's Booking Dance Festival Edinburgh. This vibrant all-female contemporary company will be performing at The Fringe for the first time in 2011.

Gehring Dance Theatre

http://www.gehringdancetheatre.org/