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The Pellerin Brothers
Nova Scotia

The Pellerin Brothers

Bill and John Pellerin are brothers who were born and raised in Antigonish, The Highland Heart of Nova Scotia, where they developed a lifelong connection to the traditional culture of northeastern Nova Scotia and Cape Breton. Deeply rooted in both the Gaelic and Acadian traditions of the region, their family ties extend to the Beaton families of Mabou in Inverness County and to the historic Acadian communities of Guysborough County. Growing up in a family and community where music and dance were part of everyday life, they developed a strong appreciation for the rhythms and traditions of Cape Breton step dance from an early age; Bill started dancing at six years old and John at four. They were instructed by Margaret Dunn, Ellen (MacPherson) MacIntyre, Garry (MacPherson) Fidler, and the late Rev. Angus MacDonnell. John began playing the violin at the age of ten under the direction of Stan Chapman. Both Bill and John acquired a great wealth of music through family. Their father Kenneth is a fiddler and their grandmother was a Beaton from the Mabou Coal Mines. Dancing and fiddling have brought both Bill and John throughout Canada, the U.S., and the U.K. They have had the opportunity to perform alongside Winnie Chafe, Natalie MacMaster, Ashley MacIsaac, the late Buddy MacMaster, and the late John Morris Rankin among many others. After more than 50 years preserving and sharing the tradition, carrying forward the distinctive style, spirit, and cultural heritage of Cape Breton step dancing, they still love dancing and performing as much as they did from the beginning.

Festival Performances

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