If you like to do something a bit more traditional and are proud of your Scottish roots, then why not take up a traditional Scottish form of dance?
What forms of dance are there?
There are two main kinds of traditional Scottish dance:
- Scottish country dancing
- Highland dancing
Scottish country dancing is the kind of dancing you’ve probably done in school and it's often called ceilidh dancing. Do the Gay Gordons or the Dashing White Sergeant ring a bell? Well, then you've had a bash at Scottish country dancing.
Highland dancing tends to be a bit more serious, and is something people will take tuition in, and probably exams too. Its roots are in celebratory dances or warrior dances performed over swords and spiked shield. According to tradition, the old kings and chiefs of Scotland used the Highland Games as a way of choosing the best men for their retinue and men at arms. Highland dancing was one of the various ways men were tested for strength, stamina, accuracy, and agility!
Get involved - Scottish Country Dancing
To a lot of people, Scottish country dancing is just something you were forced to do at school as part of P.E. But once you've left school and no longer have to dance with people you don't want too, it can actually be quite fun. If you take a bit of time to learn the dances properly you'll be able to impress everyone when you manage to avoid tripping over your own feet. The bonus also is that it's a good way to keep you fit if you're not in to sports.
If you’re interested in Scottish country dancing, then best way to get involved is to search online or check your local newspaper. Most Scottish towns, cities and even villages will have some sort of regular Scottish country dancing events, whether it’s specific classes or weekly ceilidhs, where you’re likely to learn new dances and be able to polish up what you already know. If you’ve got a group of friend that’s interested too, then that’s even better as a crowd of you can go along and have a laugh.
Get involved - Highland Dancing
Highland dancing is generally a much more serious form of dancing with costumes and exams. Most Highland dances are performed as solos, so if you like to be in the spotlight and the centre of attention, this is definitely for you.
Despite being a more formal form of dancing, the best ways to get involved is to search online or check your local newspapers. There are people teaching Highland dancing all over the place, so just keep your eyes and ears peeled.
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