Highland dancing was originally done as military training for Scotsmen, back in the days when the English forbade the Scots to maintain a militia. Today, highland dancing is primarily an artform performed by males and females alike. While no longer military in nature, highland is still quite a workout - with leaps and jumps being integral to the art form. Today's highland dancing is subdivided into two categories of dance: Highland Dances and National Dances.

The highland dances are performed in a traditional kilt and are the more military and precise dances. These include the Highland Fling, the Ghillie Callum [or Sword Dance] and the Seann Triubbhas, to name just a few. To learn more about these dances, including a brief history of each, please click here.

The national dances, in comparison, are more graceful and balletic than the highland dances. These developed to tell stories of Scottish life and heroes. Females perform these dances in a specific dress known as the Aboyne, while males have the option of wearing their kilt or tartan trews. These dances include the Scottish Lilt, Flora MacDonald's Fancy and Highland Laddie, to name just a few. To learn more about these dances, including a brief history of each, please click here.