Scottish Highland Dance
About Highland Dance Scottish Highland Dancing is a celebration of the Scottish spirit. The dances accent vitality, strength, fitness, and courage, which are all characteristics of life in the Highlands. These are the same dances which centuries ago had the power to dispel the gloom of despair, poverty, and the oppression of everyday existence. A few brief hours of cheer provided by pipers and fiddlers tuning up for the spontaneous dancing and singing prepared soldiers for battle or made the hardship of life more bearable. Legend records that the earliest Highland dances were imitations of animals such as the Highland deer leaping with graceful surefootedness away from hunters. By the 11th and 12th centuries Highland Dances tended to be highly athletic dances of triumph or joy or warrior dances performed over swords or spiked shields. According to tradition, the old kings and chiefs of Scotland used Highland Games as a way of choosing the best men for their retinue and men at arms. Highland dancing demonstrated a man’s strength, stamina, accuracy, and agility. In the 16th century, Highland dances became more refined as French ballet masters brought back to Scotland by Mary Queen of Scots combined the elements of classical ballet with the vigorous traditional dances. As a result, Highland Dance shares many elements with ballet. Competitive Highland Dancing started during the Highland revival of Victorian Britain and was for men only. National Dances were added to competitions to allow women join the competition, and in the 20th century, women began participating in the Highland competitions. Today it is one of few athletic activities where men and women compete equally. The Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing standardized dance steps in the 1950’s and today competitions are held worldwide including here in Central New York. The Highland Dances The Highland Fling The Fling is the oldest of the Highland Dances. It is a dance of joy performed at the end of a victorious battle. Male warriors danced on the targe or shield of their defeated enemies. Most targes were round, about 16 or 18 inches in diameter, and had a sharp spike projecting through the center. Dancers learned to move with skill and dexterity over the small circle. The Sword Dance This ancient dance of war, also known as the Ghillie Callum, is said to date back to King Malcolm Canmore. Callum was a hero fighting against one of MacBeth’s chiefs in the Battle of Dunsinane in 1504. Callum took the sword of the defeated chief, crossed it with his own and danced over both of them in exultation. Other legends have soldiers using the Sword Dance to predict success in an upcoming battle. A man who could dance without displacing either sword was guaranteed victory. The Seann Triubhas Pronounced “shawn trews” in Gaelic, in English it translates to “Old Trousers.” Origins are obscure but it definitely depicts a person in the act of shedding his trousers. Most legends have the dance originating in about 1783 when the British Disarming Act of 1747 was finally repealed and Scots were allowed to wear tartans and kilts once again. The dance mimics a Scot shedding his britches during the slow first steps and then returning to his traditional kilt as he dances the Highland Fling. The Strathspey and Highland Reel This Highland Dance is closest to the social dances of Scotland. Legend had this reel or foursome originating with well-wishers waiting for the minister to arrive at the church to perform a wedding on a cold day. The chilly group danced to keep warm.
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