Dance Page

Highland Dance

  Scottish Highland Dancing is a celebration of the Scottish spirit. The dances are a spectacular combination of movement, music, and costume. They are typically danced to the music of the bagpipes. The dances are great fun and anyone, not just with a Scottish heritage, who thrills to the sound of the bagpipe, can join in and learn the dances.

  Nowadays, Highland dancing, which can be seen at nearly every modern day Highland games event, is a highly competitive and technical dance form. In terms of its technical requirements and the training required for its performance, Highland dancing has much in common with ballet. In many ways, Highland dancing evolved from solo step dancing, but while some forms of step dancing are purely percussive in nature, Highland dancing involves not only a combination of steps but also some integral upper body, arm, and hand movements. Even so, it is still considered a form of step dancing in that the main element of Highland dancing is concerned with footwork.

  Like other dance traditions, what is called "Highland dancing" is a hybrid form that has been constantly changing according to contemporary aesthetics and interpretations of the past. While some elements may be centuries old, other elements are much more modern. The vast majority of dances now performed were composed in the last century.

Click on the following links to see examples of Highland Dance:

Fling        Flora        Lilt        Sword        Trews

  Superior Pipes & Drums offers free instruction in all forms of the Celtic arts and welcomes all who wish to join us. Please contact Lisa McKenzie at mckenzieclanup@gmail.com or (906)482-9137 for more information about dance instruction.