highland dance

Scottish Highland Dancing

Click here for information on the
2002 Rio Grande Celtic Festival and Highland Games

and to get a Highland Dance Entry Form

May 18, 2002

Menaul School, Albuquerque, NM

Highland Dancing is the traditional dancing from Scotland.. It is usually danced solo to the music of the Scottish bagpipe. Highland and National dances require stamina, flexibility, strength and agility. Following are descriptions of most of the Highland and National Dances. For more information on Scottish Highland Dancing please visit the FUSTA website.

Highland Dances

Highland Fling

A victory dance that is supposed to be the oldest dance and is said to have been done on the shield or targe of the defeated warrior. The fingers are held in the shape of the deer head with antlers in all of the highland dances.

Sword Dance ( Ghillie Callum)

The legend has it that before entering into battle, soldiers would perform this dance over crossed swords. If the dancer displaced or touched the sword it was a bad omen.

Seann Truibhas ('Old Trousers' )

Seann Truibhas as the story goes dates back to the 1783 when the British Disarming Act of 1747 was repealed and Scots were finally allowed to wear the Kilt again. This dance represents the shedding of the trousers.

Strathspey & Reel of Tulloch

This dance along with the Strathspey & Highland Reel, and the Hulluchan are the only Highland dances done with more than one person. There is usually a team of four dancers who weave in and out in a figure eight pattern. Supposedly this dance was done by parishioners dancing around trying to keep warm before church.

Megan G. on the left is doing the Blue Bonnets. Marion L. in the center is doing the Fling and Leslie G. on the right is doing the sword dance.

National Dances
These dances were supposed to be the female equivalent of the Highland Dances. As a rule they are more gracefil than the Highland Dances. Both men and women compete and perform the Highland and National dances.

Sailor's Hornpipe

Sailor's Hornpipe imitates many typical ship board activities such as hoisting the mainsail, climbing ladders, hauling ropes, scrubbing decks and standing look-out duty. Sailor's clothing is worn for this dance.

Irish Jig

This is the Scottish version or parody of an Irish Jig. It depicts a woman who is angry with her husband who has been at the pub. A red and/or green costume with a full skirt and petticoats is worn for this dance.

Scottish Lilt, Flora McDonald's Fancy, Blue Bonnets over the Border, Village Maid, the Earl of Errol, Scotch Measure

Scottish National Step dances. Very baalletic and flowing in style. These dances require a lot of skill to execute correctly. The costume worn by the females is called an Aboyne. It consists of a vest, blouse,full plaid skirt and matching shawl.

Highland Laddie

This dance was choreographed by soldiers in WWI.

Wilt thou Come to Barracks, Johnny?

A recruiting dance from the Army danced in the kilt.

Top of page

Return to Albuquerque and Four Corners Pipes & Drums Home Page

Highland Fling	A victory dance that is supposed to be the oldest dance and is said to have been done on the shield or targe of the defeated warrior. The fingers are held in the shape of the deer head with antlers in all of the highland dances.
Sword Dance ( Ghillie Callum)	The legend has it that before entering into battle, soldiers would perform this dance over crossed swords. If the dancer displaced or touched the sword it was a bad omen.
Seann Truibhas ('Old Trousers' )	Seann Truibhas as the story goes dates back to the 1783 when the British Disarming Act of 1747 was repealed and Scots were finally allowed to wear the Kilt again. This dance represents the shedding of the trousers.
Strathspey & Reel of Tulloch	This dance along with the Strathspey & Highland Reel, and the Hulluchan are the only Highland dances done with more than one person. There is usually a team of four dancers who weave in and out in a figure eight pattern. Supposedly this dance was done by parishioners dancing around trying to keep warm before church.

Sailor's Hornpipe	Sailor's Hornpipe imitates many typical ship board activities such as hoisting the mainsail, climbing ladders, hauling ropes, scrubbing decks and standing look-out duty. Sailor's clothing is worn for this dance.
Irish Jig	This is the Scottish version or parody of an Irish Jig. It depicts a woman who is angry with her husband who has been at the pub. A red and/or green costume with a full skirt and petticoats is worn for this dance.
Scottish Lilt, Flora McDonald's Fancy, Blue Bonnets over the Border, Village Maid, the Earl of Errol, Scotch Measure	Scottish National Step dances. Very baalletic and flowing in style. These dances require a lot of skill to execute correctly. The costume worn by the females is called an Aboyne. It consists of a vest, blouse,full plaid skirt and matching shawl.
Highland Laddie	This dance was choreographed by soldiers in WWI.
Wilt thou Come to Barracks, Johnny?	A recruiting dance from the Army danced in the kilt.