The Fairy Dance

About

The Fairy Dance is an animated adaptation of an Orcadian folk tale about “the peerie (or peedie) folk”; mound-dwelling, music-loving magical creatures.

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Value for value

The Fairy Dance is free to watch online without ads under the ‘Value for Value’ model (aka Pay What You Want or Name Your Price). If you enjoy it and would like to support the artist, and future work, you can pay whatever you think it is worth. Click the link below.

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Artwork

The Fairy Dance was created by Orcadian artist Martin Laird. To learn more about the animation and artwork click the link below.

See more work by Martin at martinlaird.scot

ART

Music

The Fairy Dance is also the name of a well-known traditional Scottish fiddle tune, which was adapted for the original soundtrack.

Music

Latest News

The Fairy Dance at the Loft Gallery

The Fairy Dance at the Loft Gallery From the 28th of August until the 28th of September 2021, the Loft Gallery in St. Maragaret’s Hope, Orkney, will be showing artwork[…]

Beuy August 23, 2021 0

The Fairy Dance - Trow Wife dancing the Monster Mash under a spotlight in a tomb.

Dance of the big fairy – outtake

Dance of the big fairy – outtake Central to the story of The Fairy Dance is, of course, a scene featuring dancing “fairies” (also known as Trows in Orcadian folklore).[…]

Beuy August 19, 2021 0

The Fairy Dance, cairn in the snow. Animation still frame.

The Fairy Dance – timelapse animation

The Fairy Dance is a forthcoming animation by Orcadian artist Martin Laird inspired by a folk tale about a fiddle player who entertains “the peerie folk”. These are music-loving goblin-like[…]

Beuy August 18, 2021 0

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About

The Fairy Dance is an animated adaptation of an old Orcadian folk tale about “the peerie (or peedie) folk”, also knowns as trows or fairies. These are tricksy, often malevolent creatures similar to the faeries found in legends throughout European folklore.

In Orkney trows were thought to live in grassy mounds (actually Neolithic chambered cairns such as Maeshowe), and they love music!

The Fairy Dance has been created with equipment purchased using a Visual Artist and Craft Maker Award. Thanks to the VACMA panel, Orkney Islands Council, Creative Scotland and Highlands and Islands Enterprise for making it possible.

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Fiddler meeting a Trow on Albert Street, Kirkwall.

Fiddler walking with a trow past a standing stone which watches them with it's single eye.

The Fairy Dance - a baby kidnapped by Trows, known as a changeling

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Thanks

The Fairy Dance was created with equipment and training purchased with a Visual Arts and Crafts Makers Award (VACMA). Many thanks to the VACMA panel, Orkney Islands Council, Creative Scotland and Highlands and Islands Enterprise for their support.