Stomp, Kick and Heave Away!!! Gerard Murphy's 'Heave Away' took the UK by a storm last summer as the dance jigged its way into line dancers' hearts.  The tall, lanky, very personable Gerard was relatively unknown here in the UK until 'Heave Away' but he has a loyal following in Canada.  He hails from Nova Scotia although he grew up in Newfoundland where he told me that he was always surrounded by music and dancing... "I think most Newfoundlanders assume they can step dance - that it's in their blood or something!"    Gerard started teaching line dancing in 1994 when he moved to a small village in Nova Scotia where line dancing was non existent.  He now teaches at a country bar called "The Rodeo Lounge" and coaches  "Murphy's Law Dance Team".  Gerard choreographed his first dance for the very first workshop at which he taught.   "It was such a thrill to see dancers doing a dance that I had worked on for HOURS!" he told me, "But my biggest choreography challenge was working with two young synchronized swimmers who wanted to add a 'country' flair to a competition routine...line dancing in the water!! It looked great in the end - they even wore cowboy hats before they dove into the pool!!"  Gerard has now written twenty dances. His first big hit entitled "Gypsy Fever" won him 1st Runner Up for Eastern Canada Choreography at the 1999 North Country/Rick Tippe Outstanding Dance Achievement Awards.  When Gerard first heard 'Heave Away' by the Fables, he knew he had to work with it.  He told me that The Fables are truly Newfoundland's fastest-rising Celtic-rock sensation.  They are popular throughout Eastern Canada and in 2001 received the East Coast Music Association Award for Entertainer of the Year.   When Gerard first taught "Heave Away" in Nova Scotia at a local event he was thrilled at the response from the enthusiastic dancers.  Subsequently he taught "Heave Away" at events in different parts of Canada and shared it with other instructors through the Internet.  Lana Harvey was the first instructor to teach it outside of Canada  in Arizona in the United States.  It wasn't long after that Max Perry and Kathy Hyundai visited Nova Scotia for a local workshop and saw the dance while they were there.  Gerard taught them "Heave Away" in a back corner and set them up with a CD when Max mentioned that he'd like to teach it on his next UK tour. Gerard takes up the story, "The few months after Max left Nova Scotia were amazing  with phone calls and email messages from all over the UK, Europe, Australia and other countries  it was overwhelming.  I received so much feedback from the UK that I knew if I ever visited there would be loads of dancers to meet and thank! When 'Heave Away' was published in the UK 'Linedancer' magazine,  that was the biggest thrill!" I asked Gerard if he had any UK family connections... "Being a 'Murphy' I'd say yes I have a strong connection to Ireland for sure!  My father's family originated from Cork.  Seems like all my ancestors came from either Ireland or England  but that's pretty much the way it is in Newfoundland.  I've got bits and pieces of my family tree, but there are still a lot of holes in it  I'd love to try and finish it someday.  My Mom grew up along one coast of Newfoundland that has a very strong Irish influence  she sounds like she came directly from Ireland!  She's been one of my biggest influences  'I'm the spit out of her mouth'so I'm told!" Gerard was influenced by another local singing group 'The Ennis Sisters' for another of his dances 'Plank 'Er Down'. When Gerard heard the song "I loved it but when I met 'the girls' - as we call them - a few years ago when they performed in a shopping mall, I became an instant groupie!"  The Ennis Sisters have since performed in concert halls across Canada while Gerard's dance is an enormous favourite on the Canadian line dance floors. No doubt it will be heading over the ocean soon so look out for it on the dance floor near you! I asked Gerard if he is planning to visit the UK at any time, "I visited Scotland in 1996 and fell in love all over again, good thing my wife Susan was with me!  We are planning to return to the UK in 2002 and really want to see everything that England, Ireland and Wales has to offer as well as visit Scotland again.  It will be great to meet up with some local dancers and to do some teaching while I'm there  I'll certainly get the word out as our plans become clearer". Gerard Murphy is a talented Canadian choreographer to watch for.  He is a also a patient and lively instructor, with a whacky sense of humour who obviously enjoys teaching and people.   So keep your eyes open for a long-legged Newfoundlander jigging his way to your local line dance club!

PROFILE From the World of Line Dance

GERARD MURPHY by Vivienne Scott

Published in UK "Linedancer", Nov. 2001

Gerard can always be counted on to make us smile!