Highland Dances
The Highland Fling is one of the first dances that Highland dancers learn. It is said to originate as a dance of victory that Scottish warriors danced upon the shields of their vanquished enemies. The dance is performed high on the ball of the foot and on the spot because the most common Scottish shield - called a targe - featured a large metal spike in its center. The dance is also performed with arms upraised to represent the antlers of a stag - a symbol of the wild Scottish highlands.
In competition, this dance is done with either four or six steps, depending upon the dancer's ability and skill level. The Highland Fling has many recognized steps that can be used in competition and exhibition.
The Sword Dance, also called the Ghillie Callum, is performed over two crossed swords [or a crossed sword and scabbard]. According to legend, this dance originated when King Malcolm Canmore defeated "King" MacBeth in 1058. At his victory, Malcolm snatched his opponent's sword, placed his own sword cross-wise atop it, and performed an intricate dance in celebration. Later Scotsmen would perform this dance on the eve of great battles as a show of dexterity and a prediction of the battle's outcome. If either sword were touched in the dance, it was an ill omen for the pending battle.
The dance is usually performed as a 2+1 or 3+1, depending upon the dancer's skill level and ability. This means that they dance either two or three slow steps and one quick step at the end. Occasionally, you will see a 2+2 sword, or two slow steps and two quick steps. As with the Fling, there are many recognized steps [6+ slow and 2+ quick] to choose from for competition and exhibition.
One of the most graceful of the Highland dances, the Seann Triubhas means "old trousers" or "ugly/unwanted trousers". It originated after the Battle of Culloden, when the English forbade the Scots to celebrate their culture through playing pipes, training a military or wearing the kilt. In fact, for much of the period, wearing a kilt brought a penalty of death to the wearer. The slow steps of the dance represent the shaking motions of a Scotsman trying to rid himself of the wretched pants that he's been forced to wear. The quick steps, which very strongly resemble the Highland Fling, represent the Scotsman's dance of joy when the law was repealed and he could freely wear the kilt once again.
In competition, the "Trews" is performed as a 3+1 or a 4+2, depending upon the dancer's skill level and ability. Again, this means either three slow and one quick step or four slow and two quick steps. There are many different recognized steps to choose from, which leads to a variety of versions performed at the same time at any competition.
The Strathspey is a team dance for four dancers. It is always followed, in competition, by a reel. It is performed to a strathspey, a unique Scottish style of tune with a heavy Strong-weak-Medium-weak emphasis on the notes. The dance is performed in a single line, with dancers facing each other in two pairs. They perform a traveling step weaving in and out in a figure eight pattern, broken up by several setting steps performed in place. The setting steps can be any step from the Highland Fling.
This dance is rarely performed among the lower grade dancers in competition, but is quite common among the more experienced and elite dancers. It can be performed in competition as the Strathspey and Highland Reel or as the Strathspey and Half Tulloch.
Both the Highland Reel and the Reel of Tulloch are team dances for four dancers and are usually preceded by a Strathspey. The Highland Reel is performed in a straight line with the dancers' travelling step weaving in and out in a figure eight pattern. It is said to have originated outside of a church one cold winter morning when the minister was late. In order to remain warm, the parishioners danced around in a figure eight until the tardy padre showed up.
The Reel of Tulloch, like the other reel, is performed primarily in a straight line and includes several couple spins called "propelled pivot turns." Again, this dance is attributed to the shivering parishoners of the late cleric.
The Highland Reel and the Reel of Tulloch use the same basic setting steps, with the first step in the Tulloch always being the same. The last setting step of both reels is always a series of high cuts and is truly a test of endurance! The Highland Reel consists of the figure eight travelling steps broken up with on the spot setting steps, while the Tulloch is a series of setting steps broken up with the propelled pivot turns. The Highland Reel and Reel of Tulloch are usually performed in competitions immediately following a Strathspey, although each can be performed as a separate dance.
