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Scottish Highland Dancing

Scottish highland dancing is:

• a sport/art developing skill, cardiovascular exercise;
• a cultural activity for those of Celtic origins;
• available to any person of any age or cultural background (you don't have to be Scottish to have fun!).

This art has links to ballet, and other dance styles. Unlike Scottish country dancing which is a group social activity, highland dancing can be a competitive solo form -- compare your skills to those with you on the stage, or push yourself harder. Do examinations for personal development, or get involved in fetes and demonstrations for public presentations.

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The dances

There are many dances and other web sites can give more detail. Many dances have their origins in history. Here's an overview.

Highland fling: The most well-known of the Scottish dances. Danced in kilt (women and men).

Sword dance: Based on the battle between Malcolm and an ally of MacBeth (of Shakespeare fame). Place your vanquished sword over your enemy's sword (in the '+' shape), and do a victory dance -- just don't touch the swords! Danced in kilt (women and men).

Seann triubhas: Gaelic for 'old trousers' (pronounced 'shown trews', to rhythm with 'down'). Relates to the Act of Proscription (1745-1782). The first three steps are danced in a controlled manner (as if in trousers), then a clap signifies a change in dance tempo, and the last step is done in a more lively manner, indicating the return of the kilt! Danced in kilt (women and men).

Scottish lilt: Described c. 1798 in Perth, Scotland, this is a graceful and slow dance. To lilt is to be graceful, a light tripping and rhythmic manner. Attire -- aboyne (women) or kilt (men).

Barracks Johnnie (Wilt though go to the barracks Johnnie?): An army recruiting dance from Aberdeen (Berwick was a military barracks) by women to entice men to sign up as soldiers.

Flora McDonald's fancy: A national dance, referring to the lady who helped Bonnie Prince Charlie escape from Scotland. Worn with aboyne (women) or kilt (men).

Sailors' hornpipe: Dance of English sailors upon the old sailing boats. Non-kilt outfit worn.

Irish jig: A parody of an Irish washerwoman, having difficulty with a clothes line and a husband. Non-kilt outfit worn.

Other dances include the Earl of Errol, Highland laddie, Blue Bonnets over the border, Village maid, strathspey and highland reel, Scotch measure, and the broadswords.

Steps (a combination of basic movements) are drawn from the syllabuses of the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing (SOBHD), the British Association of Teachers of Dancing (BATD), Scottish Dance Teachers' Alliance (SDTA), United Kingdom Alliance of Professional Teachers of Dancing (UKA), and for choreography, a realm of other works.

Several Scottish country dances may be practised for presentations, including Strip the willow, Postie's jig and the Haymaker's jig.

We don't do Irish dancing, but if you would like some information, there are some good web sites for history, etc. For some Irish studios in the area, see our links on the Contact page.

Queensland has a rich history and involvement in highland dancing -- be a part of it!

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Examinations

Exams are great for pushing a dancer's personal development, acting as a tool to learn more about the sport/art, and/or to progress skills to become a teacher.

SAS assesses students under the syllabus of the Queensland Scottish Dancing Association (QSDA). Those students undertaking their studies through the National Dancing Association (NDA), arrangements can be made for conversion to QSDA, or continuation under NDA.

The levels under QSDA are:

• Primary -- Highland fling four step, with theory and demonstration;
• First grade -- Fling and Sword dance;
• Second grade -- Fling, Swords, and Seann triubhas;
• Third grade -- Fling, Swords, Seann, Strathspey;
• Fourth grade -- Fling, Swords, Seann, Strathspey;
• Fifth grade -- Fling, Swords, Seann, Reel of tulloch;
• Sixth grade (pre-teacher's) -- Fling, Swords, Seann, and Strathspey and Reel of tulloch;
• Teacher's examination; and
• Examiners' examination.

'National dances' are in a separate scheme:

• Level 1: Sailors' hornpipe;
• Level 2: Scottish lilt, Flora McDonald's fancy, Blue bonnets, Highland laddie;
• Level 3: Village maid, Earl of Errol, Barracks Johnnie, Scotch measure; and
• Level 4: Irish jig.

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Competitions

All competitions in Queensland and New South Wales are conducted under the rules of the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing. Some dates and locations are listed on the Join us page. Should you be travelling interstate or overseas, we'll find out if there's a competition being held where you are going -- meet other dancers, have great fun, and hey, if the judges agree that you danced well, come home with a medal or three!

To compete, dancers must be registered (done through the studio to a body such as the South Queensland Regional Committee of Highland Dancing).

About 100 dancers compete in one day at a competition - in categories and age groups (up to 15 dancers in a group). Through successful placings, a dancer rises through the categories, namely:

• Primary -- a dancer under seven years of age. Restricted to Pas de basques, Pas de basques and high cuts, Highland fling, and Sword dance;
• Beginner -- a dancer who has not yet gained a first, second or third in six separate beginner competitions. Restricted to Highland fling, Sword dance, Seann triubhas, a reel, Flora McDonald's fancy, and the Scottish lilt;
• Novice -- a dancer who has not yet gained a first, second or third in six separate novice competitions. Restricted to same dances as beginner;
• Intermediate -- held for a period of one year from first intermediate competition. Restricted to Highland fling, Sword dance, Seann triubhas, a reel, Flora McDonald's fancy, Scottish lilt, Barracks Johnnie, Highland laddie, Sailors' hornpipe, and Irish jig; and
• Premier.

Usually three dancers mount the stage at one time, and a judge is out the front.

Competitions use several terms, including:

• title -- two or more dances, culminating in an additional award/ trophy/ medal; and
  
  
• championship -- premier-level dancers only. Set steps are prescribed annually by Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing. This ensures variety of steps each year, whilst being impressive to see all across the stage being uniform (and incidently, helps the judge quickly determine who just, oops, made a mistake!).

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Attire

See our Gallery page for photographs of some dancing outfits.

Attire worn differs between male and female dancers. For those who do not have a Scottish clan allegiance, there are also other tartans that may be selected, e.g. the Queensland or Australian tartan, that used by the Scout Association (McLaren), etc. Note you do not need to have a tartan that relates to your family -- any tartan may be worn, as long as it is worn with respect -- it's usually based on liking of colour and pattern.

Dancing pumps are black soft leather soft-soled shoes that form around the foot, laced up with elastic or shoe laces.

This is just an overview -- ask us for more details.

Highland dances -- Kilt

Men: White shirt, tie, kilt, tartan hose, and dance pumps. May also wear a kilt vest, and balmoral (like a beret or tam-o-shanter).
Women: White blouse, kilt vest, kilt, tartan hose, and dance pumps.

National dances -- Aboyne (females)

For national dances, men wear the kilt. Worn are a tartan-patterned broad gathered skirt, white blouse with full sleeves, white cotton underskirt, velvet(een) aboyne vest, a plaid (tartan cloth attached from the right shoulder and draped down the back), white socks, and dance pumps.

Sailors' hornpipe

Both women and men wear either white or navy blue straight trousers (stove pipe), sailor's shirt with dickie, and a sailor's hat.

Irish jig

Men: Brown pork-pie hat, jacket, brown corduroy trousers, with hard leather-soled jig shoes. Also may carry a sheilaigh (a wooden stick).
Women: Green, red or green/red dress, with hard leather-soled jig shoes.

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Irish dance history -- http://www.irishdancinginsydney.com/Irish%20Handout.doc ; December 2007