Welcome

[Highland Lassie]

Welcome to the Highland Dance Forum! i'm Vicky MacArthur , I've been dancing for almost five years. I'll do my best to answer the questions you have for me. The first thing I have to say about dancing is it's fun! I think anyone can do it. I remember when I first started , I saw my teacher dance and thought "I could never do that!" But I worked hard with my dancing and now I know a number of dances and learning more! The one thing i've learned with dancing is never give up! In the begining I felt like giving up , but dancing helps me in my everyday life challenges. I hope to talk to other highland Dancers like myself and I'm willing to try to answer the questions you have for me.

Happy Dancing!!

[WizardofOwls]

Hi Vicky!

I'm not a dancer (I have two left feet ) but I look forward to reading more about it! I love to watch! I have to confess, though, that I don't think I've ever actually seen any Highland dancing! I think all I've seen has been Irish dancing! But I think it will be very interesting to learn more!

[Highland Lassie]

Nice to meet you! Irish dancing is alot more common than Scottish Dancing. Finding a Highland Dance teacher is alot harder too. My parents drove almost 2 hours to and back from Dance lessons for nearly 4 years! Until they found us a great new dance teacher who is much closer!

[gwenlee]

Hey Vicky

I'm glad you are leading the forum on Highland Dancing. I enjoy watching the competition at the games, especially the little girls, they look so cute. I've also had the pleasure of dancing with former Highland Dancers, who have switched to Scottish Country Dancing. Could you explain how the competition is judged?

[maggiemahone1]

Hi Vicky, it's good to see you back here on the forum. I know if anyone can tell us about Highland Dancing it will be you. I don't have any questions at the present time, but maybe later!

Allen stay away with those two left feet, that could be mighty dangerous!

maggiemahone1

[CelticAingeal]

Great to see this forum! I know my daughter ( and I ) were helped a lot by people on this site when she was getting ready for her first competition two years ago. I'll look forward to checking back!

Slainte!
~ Shannon

[Highland Lassie]

Hi Gwenlee! I'm not a judge but i'll answer this question the best I can! It's based upon many things.

1. turnout- Scottish dancing is all about leg turnout. You have to have both feet turned out which can be very hard. Some dancers have trouble with turned in feet which takes away a number of points.

2. Dancing on the ball of your foot- In the olden days dancers had to dance on a shield that had very sharp spikes on it. If your heel dropped than the spike would go threw your foot. So dancing on the ball of your foot is very important.

3.Teqnique- Teqnique can make all the diffrence. Over all it makes your dancing looks much better. And remember PRACTICE makes PERFECT!!!!

these are the three major points in competing. As I said Before I am not a judge , a Judge or dance teacher would have more information than me.

I hope this helps!

Happy Dancing!!!!

[gwenlee]

Thanks Vicky for the information.

[Dalriada Dancer]

Hi Vicky and everyone!

I'm a Highland teacher and dancer in Ontario. Highland is my life! I have two daughters who dance and compete as well. We do lots of dancing in our community (which is hard since unless it has a hockey stick or ballet shoes, it's hard to get kids interested!)