Welcome To Highland Dance |
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| Highland Dance Classes are offered for dancers 4 & up. Call Tracey Baker Williams at 904.655.0049 for information. Highland Dancing dates back to the 11th century. Highland dances of Scotland tended to be highly athletic male dances of triumph, joy and other reflections of everyday life in Scotland. Competitive Highland dancing, for men only, started during the Highland revival of Victorian Britain. Ladies began competing at the turn of this century. No matter who dances them, Highland dances require athletic and artistic skill. Scottish Highland Dancers are judged on three basic skill sets: timing, technique and general deportment. Although the dances are very athletic, they must be danced with apparent ease with no signs of strain and be free of elaborate showiness. The championship dances are: THE HIGHLAND FLING - This is the oldest of the traditional dances of Scotland - a dance of victory after battle. Traditionally warriors danced the Highland Fling over a small round shield called a Targe. Most Targes had a sharp steel spike projecting from the center, so dancers learned early to move with great skill and dexterity. THE SWORD DANCE (GILLIE CALUM) - The Sword Dance dates back to the 11th century, the days of King Malcolm Canmore (Shakespeare’s MacBeth). The traditional dance originates from the victory of Calum a Chinn Mor (Malcolm Canmore) over one of MacBeth’s chiefs at the battle near Dunsinane in 1054. The King took his sword and crossed it over the sword of his enemy and danced over them in exultation. THE SEANN TRIUBHAS - Pronounced “shawn trews”, this Gaelic phrase means “old trousers”. This dance dates to the rebel¬lion of 1745 when Bonnie Prince Charlie challenged the might of England and lost. As a penalty, High-landers were forbidden to wear the kilt and had to wear trousers. On hearing the news that the ban on wearing the kilt was lifted, they tore off their trews and this dance was born. The motions of this dance defiantly depict a man taking off his “breeks” (britch¬es) and returning to the freedom of the kilt. REEL OF TULLOCH - Cold parishioners waiting for their tardy preacher on a cold Sunday morning are credited with creating this dance. In colonial America Scottish Reels evolved into the Virginia Reel. Although a group of four dance, dancers are judged individually. Other dances you’ll see this weekend: SCOTTISH LILT - The Scottish Lilt, one of the National Dances, is a gentle flowing dance. It was invented for female competitors at the Aboyne Highland Games, which prohibits female competitors from wearing the kilt. The Aboyne dress is a shortened version of a popular 17th century plaid Highland dress. SAILOR’S HORNPIPE - Originally an ancient dance common to many parts of the British Isles, its name derives from the “horn pipe”, an instrument comparable to the present day tin flute, which accompanied the dance. The dance became so popular among seafaring men that it became known as the Sailor’s Hornpipe. The modern dance, performed in nautical costume, depicts the English “tar’s” day at sea scrubbing decks, hauling ropes, hoisting the mainsail and keeping lookout. IRISH JIG - Low pay, long hours and husbands who have nipped off to the pub for a pint all contributed to the frustration of the Irish washerwoman, who often danced out her anger, complete with waving fists and stamping feet. Men who dance the jig are said to act out the discomfort felt when one of the washer-women shrank “Paddy’s Leather Breeches”, the traditional tune to which the jig is danced. Today dancers are judged by standards set by the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing (SOBHD) formed in 1949. SOBHD judges are qualified teachers of highland dancing who have passed a rigorous series of tests. |
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