Who knows anything about highland dancing?

Question

If you do, info would be great. I'd just like to see how much the community really knows about this sport

Answer 1

I used to be a dancer with a Scottish pipe band. I performed in a few competitions and have a couple of medals.

There are three kinds of Scottish dance:

* Highland dance (fling, reel, sword, sean truibhes)
* National dance (sailor's hornpipe, Irish jig, lilt, Flora McDonald's fancy)
* Country dance (couple dances)

I've heard that the Highland dances (fling, sword, etc.) were used as training for the Scottish army. It seems plausible, they're REALLY an aerobic workout! The fling, in particular, involves a lot of leaping in place (the higher, the better), and it definitely takes dexterity to do the moves properly.

There is a legend associated with the sword dance that says that it was done just before the army would go into battle. If the dancer completed it without touching the swords, it was a good omen that the battle would go well. But if the dancer's feet touched the swords, that was not a good omen at all!

The sean truibhes dance, whose name means "old trousers", arose in the Highlands after the battle of Culloden in the 18th century. The British government banned the wearing of the kilt, so men had to wear trousers, and hated them. So the dance contains a number of foot tremors which depict the dancer trying to shake off the much-detested pants.

The Highland dances are done wearing a kilt, a white blouse with puffy sleeves, a velvet vest, argyle socks, and ghillie shoes.

I learned Highland dance on a concrete floor, and as a result I got really horrid shin splints. I was in agonizing pain for many months. If you decide to take classes, choose a teacher whose studio has a sprung floor!

Answer 2

I do!! I was a "highland fling" dancer for most of my high school years...haha. I was in an all-female pipeband, and we wore kilts, spats, argyles--the whole nine yards. We also did the sword-dance, which was fun. We even had permission by the Hamilton Clan in Scotland to use their tartan in our uniforms!

I hope that's the type of "highland" dancing that you're talking about

Answer 3

Ohmigosh, i'm the appropriate comparable way. continuously wanted to initiate dance, yet on no account have been given to, and that i feared it became into too late. besides the indisputable fact that, i've got discovered that it is on no account too late. My studio welcomed me with open palms, regardless of that i became right into a newbie and an older age, and that i'm advantageous that your studio will, too. they only decide for people to return to the studio, whether or not they are previous or youthful, newbie or stepped forward. i became into keen to artwork very problematical, to boot, and became into put in 2 one hour and fifteen minute classes a week. advantageous, it became into problematical, yet I enjoyed them. Dance is particularly stunning. As for the question approximately what sort of dance to take, i might initiate with ballet. it is the beginning place of dance, the place you learn the basics. in case you particularly like ballet, you are able to basically proceed with that, yet once you come across it boring, like some people (yet not me, i'm in basic terms a ballerina woman :) , you ought to change to jazz the subsequent year, after having discovered the basics. besides, sturdy success to you! in case you opt for to any extent further suggestion, basically upload on a question on your question, and that i will answer it.

Answer 4

I don't know a lot of the technical information, but I can tell you that I love to watch it. I have seen competitive videos of it on youtube and it really is a treat to see. I have never looked for a tutorial on there but it would be worth the search.