More than five decades of teaching, preserving and promoting old-time dance has earned a Carman couple a place among Manitoba’s most respected contributors to fiddle culture.
Larry and Irene Stevenson were recently inducted into the Manitoba Fiddle Association’s Wall of Fame in the builder and promoting category, recognizing their lifelong commitment to keeping traditional dance and music alive in their community and beyond.
“Larry and I were recognized for our 50-some years of teaching old-time and pattern dance music,” Irene Stevenson said. “We taught the old and the young.”
Their journey began in the early 1970s, when they were approached by the Dufferin Agricultural Society in Carman to share their knowledge of traditional dance styles.
“We had been taught and knew the polkas, the waltzes, the schottisches and many, many more,” Stevenson said. “We knew the moves to the old-time square dances as well.”
What started as a local opportunity quickly grew into a decades-long effort that reached far beyond Carman. The couple taught a wide range of groups, from small classes to large community gatherings, including 4-H dance programs and special events.
“We taught large groups, smaller groups, 4-H dance, and communities celebrating 100-year anniversaries,” Stevenson said. “We taught in many communities surrounding our own community of Carman.”
Their contributions also extended to choreography, helping shape the tradition they worked to preserve. The Stevensons created dance patterns for several well-known pieces, including the Waltz of the Angels, Irene Good Night, Gram Lee’s Waltz and the Carman Waltz.
Behind the scenes, Larry Stevenson has also played a key role in supporting Manitoba’s fiddle community through sound production.
He has run sound for the Carman Fiddle Festival for approximately 25 years and has been responsible for sound at the Manitoba Fiddle Association’s Wall of Fame ceremonies since its inception in 2004.
That connection makes the honour especially meaningful, as the couple now joins the very group of individuals celebrated at the Carman Community Hall display.
The Wall of Fame itself was spearheaded by the late Winston Simpson, along with committee members Joe Salwinsky, Lorne Flurry and Dave McMillan, with the goal of commemorating Manitoba fiddle players and those who contribute to the tradition.
The builder and promoting category recognizes individuals whose work ensures the continuation of fiddle music and dance through teaching, organizing and community involvement.
For the Stevensons, that work has always been rooted in sharing knowledge and keeping traditions accessible to all ages — a legacy that continues to resonate across generations of dancers.
Their induction serves as a lasting recognition of the role they have played in preserving a vital part of Manitoba’s cultural heritage.
