HIGHLAND DANCE COMPETITION

Our Highland Dance Competition will be held on the field Saturday June 14th. Further information and schedule will be added shortly.

Please see our page about Highland Dance including description of the dances. CLICK HERE.

For Highland Dance Registration information for dancers: CLICK HERE.

Highland Dancing, which requires the endurance and strength of an athlete and the artistry of a dancer, is the traditional solo dancing of Scotland, and should not be confused with Scottish country dancing—the social dance of the country. The latter shares elements with ballroom and formation dance (i.e. dance, in which an important element is the pattern of movement across the dance floor, such as in square dancing).

Unfortunately, the origins of Highland Dancing are shrouded in antiquity, legend--and even the mists of the mountains. Little academic research has been undertaken into this beautiful and important art form—in part, because very little was recorded, as Highland culture was largely an oral culture, with song and traditions passed down by word of mouth, and part because dance masters passed their steps down to young protégées. Consequently, steps and dances took on the regional character of the diverse and magnificent regions.

As a result, numerous stories abound regarding the source of the dances, and many are in conflict with each other. I will therefore give both the ‘history’, which is commonly accepted among teachers and judges, as well as some of the legends and stories with which I grew up—in order that more information is not lost. Many of the legends are beautiful and inspiring to young dancers, and should be recorded for the future. It is therefore my hope that dancers and teachers will contribute to the history in order that we develop a more complete database of the rich past.

In previous centuries, Scottish regiments used Highland Dancing as exercise to keep the troops in shape, and ready for battle. The dances are indeed excellent exercise; for example, in a typical six-step Highland Fling, a dancer will jump vertically 192 times, while performing complicated and intricate footwork, and using the muscles from head to toe. Highland dancing is therefore akin to sprinting, with dancers using fast-twitch muscle, which is also required by soldiers.

Today, Highland Dancing is one of the premiere events at Highland Games throughout the world; for example, in Canada, Japan, Scotland, South Africa, and the United States of America. Until the early 1900's, only men entered Highland Dancing competitions. However, the tradition changed during the World Wars, as women wanted to preserve their rich culture and history, while the men were defending their homeland.

Competitive female dancers now outnumber male dancers by about one hundred to one, although the dancing community is always eager to welcome more men, for their strength is very much celebrated. This year at the 2006 World of Highland Dancing Conference in Las Vegas, a special luncheon was held to honour the ‘Men of Highland Dancing’.

In order to be a successful competitive dancer, students require many hours of practice and training over a period of numerous years, as Highland dancing has much in common with ballet in terms of its technique. Students also require mastery of the four basic Highland dances, namely, the Highland Fling, the Sword Dance, Seann Truibhas (pronounced ‘shawn trewes’), and the reel—all of which are performed in the traditional kilt.

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