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Highland Dance Competition

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This year’s Saline Celtic Festival will include a Scottish highland dancing competition. Dancers from the United States and Canada, registered with the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing, will compete in traditional Scottish dances including the Highland Fling, Sword Dance, Seann Truibhas, and the Scottish Lilt, among others.  The dancers will be competing in groups based on age and skill level and will be judged on elements of timing, technique, and artistic interpretation.  They will compete in a variety of traditional Scottish dress, based on the dance being performed.  Scottish highland dancing is deeply rooted in Scottish history and military traditions, with many of the movements, steps and music carrying historical meaning and significance.

The Highland Fling is the oldest of the traditional dances of Scotland and is a dance of joy performed at the end of a victorious battle. It was originally danced by male warriors over a small round shield, called a Targe, that the warriors carried into battle. Most Targes had a sharp steel spike projecting from the centre, so dancers learned early to move with great skill and dexterity. Today, the Highland Fling is danced on spot, with grouped fingers and upheld arms representing the antlers of a stag on a hillside.

The Sword Dance (Gillie Challum) is a very old and powerful dance. Some say that the dance dates back to the days of Malcolm Canmore and began as a victory dance after battle. It is said that after winning a duel, Canmore took his and his opponent's sword, crossed them on the ground, and leapt jubilantly over them.  Others say that the Sword Dance was danced prior to a battle. To kick the swords was considered a bad omen for the impending battle, and the soldier would expect to be wounded. If many of the soldiers kicked their swords the chieftain of the clan would expect to lose the battle.  While the dancers make it look easy, the sword dance is very difficult and requires tremendous sill and dexterity in order to avoid displacing the swords.

The Seann Triubhas, pronounced "shawn trews," is a Gaelic phrase meaning "old trousers". This dance dates back to the rebellion of 1745 when Bonnie Prince Charlie challenged the might of England at Culloden, and lost. As a penalty, Highlanders were forbidden to wear their kilts. The Seann Triubhas is a dance of celebration in response to the Proscription Repeal which restored to the Scots the right to wear their kilts and play the bagpipes once more. The movements of this dance clearly depict the legs defiantly shaking and shedding the hated trousers and returning to the freedom of the kilt.   The lively quick time in the dance recreates the Highlanders’ celebration of rediscovered freedom.

The Scottish Lilt is a very graceful, ballet-like dance that celebrates the Scottish life and heritage.

The Scottish version of the Irish Jig is a caricature dance depicting an Irish washerwoman who is angry with her erring husband.  The dance depicts a woman who shakes her firsts and flounces her skirt because she is furious with her husband who has been out drinking until the wee hours.

For information on how to register for the dance competition please contact:

Cindy Kopenski

734 453-5075