I am not a Highlnad dancer, but I am very intereseted in learning more about it! How does it differ from Irish dancing? Is it difficult to learn? Are there any classes in Virginia? Come on, now! Don't be shy! Tell the Wizrd all about it!
| Printable Version of Topic
Click here to view this topic in its original format |
| Celtic Radio Community > Highland Dance > Where Are The Dancers? |
| Posted by: WizardofOwls 04-Jan-2005, 10:24 AM |
| Hi there! I am not a Highlnad dancer, but I am very intereseted in learning more about it! How does it differ from Irish dancing? Is it difficult to learn? Are there any classes in Virginia? Come on, now! Don't be shy! Tell the Wizrd all about it! |
| Posted by: greenldydragon 04-Jan-2005, 03:46 PM |
| I was wondering the difference between the two dancing types myself Wizard! I would assume they were not that different, except the fact that I am probably wrong...lol. Please, if anyone knows the answer speak up! |
| Posted by: Macfive 04-Jan-2005, 07:24 PM |
| We will have a real live Highlander Dancer moderating this forum. She will actually be an intermediate Highlander Dancer very soon. It will be a few weeks before we get started! |
| Posted by: WizardofOwls 04-Jan-2005, 08:02 PM |
Hmmm! A mystery! I love a mystery! Is she a member already? Or is she someone new to the forum? Enquiring minds want to know!  |
| Posted by: talleyrand 07-Jan-2005, 10:38 AM |
| As I understand it, there are 3 styles of dance: Irish, Scottish Highland and Scottish Country. Country is low impact, feet never far off the floor and looks more like modern square dancing. Irish has both the set or figure dancing (right term eludes me) which is the Riverdance stuff and the ceilidh or party dancing which is square dancing with some flair (which is what I mostly do). Highland dancing is the very formal, controlled style of dancing (not to say it's not energetic because those leaps kill me). The easy way to tell Irish from Scottish is to look at the knees---Irish the knees point in, Scottish are out. Shoes are another way to tell. I could be wrong, but I don't believe the Scottish have hard shoe dances. Hard shoes are what you see and more importantly hear in things like Riverdance. Soft shoes, ghillies, are light, flexible shoes that help accentuate the lines you make when dancing. I'm not a competitor, just ouf for fun and good exerceise, and still fairly new to all of this even after 3 years so if there are errors in the above it's because I'm ignorant and no way reflects on my teacher (she rocks). I look forward to having a knowlegable moderator correct any of my misconceptions. |
| Posted by: Irish Stepper 07-Jan-2005, 03:23 PM |
I think I know who she's gonna be!!! Nah-nah-nah-nah-nah!   Actually, I'm surprised Mac's gonna let her...being such a rowdy group that we are and all.  |
| Posted by: WizardofOwls 07-Jan-2005, 08:00 PM |
| TOTALLY UNFAIR! See there, Irish? The refs threw flags on that play, because they knew it was FOUL!  The only way to be fair about it is to spill your guts! Who is she? Come on now, I thought you wuz my bud? Are you holding out on me? Hmmm?BTW thanks for the info, Talleyrand! Lucky dog! I'd like to take lessons someday when we have the money... |
| Posted by: Rindy1202 07-Jan-2005, 08:24 PM |
| Hi there talleyrand that is totally awesome that you dance. How long have you been dancing? Three years? I agree with Wizard you lucky dog!!! |
| Posted by: gwenlee 07-Jan-2005, 09:21 PM |
| I've been a Scottish Country Dancer for about a year and I am by no means an expert. But I have a few things to to add about SCD. A lot of people do compare the dance to square dancing but very few of our dances are done in a square we are grouped in sets, two lines of people facing each other. I find that you have to have a lot of energy. The tempo of the dances can be jig, reel, or strathspey. Most of us know that a jig or reel is quick tempo, but the slower strathspey takes strength and balance. Some of the steps are skip change, slip step and pas de basque. These steps are used in jigs and reels. I know there is a lot more to SCD, and for those who haven't tried it--TRY IT. You don't have to have a partner and no experience is necessary. If you go to highland games usually there is a demo of SCD. The group I'm with have done demos at the games in GA and AL and we have audience participation. Oh yeah we do wear a soft sole shoe. I've said enough about SCD. I'm so glad that we have this forum and thank you. |
| Posted by: WizardofOwls 08-Jan-2005, 12:13 AM |
| Hi there gwenlee! Thanks for the info! I'm not a dancer, so the technical terms went right over my head, but it sure sounds like fun! |
| Posted by: talleyrand 11-Jan-2005, 12:14 PM |
| I don't know if things are special here but our group is a non-profit so the lessons cost $20 for an 8 or 10 week course and that just goes to cover the room fee. Then again, there is another group in town, one that focuses on competion/performance and that is some expensive stuff, at least for the children but I'm not sure on the adult pricing. And yes, thank you gwenlee for the info on SCD. Color me educated! |
| Posted by: greenldydragon 11-Jan-2005, 02:56 PM |
| Wow!!! Thank you so much for the information!! I never knew the difference between the three and any info is more than what I knew before. I think I know who Mac is talking about, but will keep my idea to myself.. |
| Posted by: gwenlee 11-Jan-2005, 05:45 PM |
| You're welcome talleyrand. Like I said I've only been dancing about a year, but it is so much fun. I like the fact that so many of the dances have a story or a meaning to it. When I tell people that my daughter and I SCD people are so interested, of course a lot of people think of highland dancing or Irish step dancing. Then we have to explain what type of dancing we do, then their reaction is oh that is so neat, or oh its like American square dancing. We gently correct them and say actually American square dancing is very much like SCD, then we laugh. But I guess what I like about it most of all is I'm able to do something with my 14 year old daughter. Now if I only can get my husband and son involved that would really be great. |
| Posted by: emerald-eyedwanderer 11-Jan-2005, 09:00 PM |
| I love many different types of dancing. Some of my favorites are ball room dancing, the tango, belly dancing and scd. I have had some classes before but I really want to get back into it. I will enjoy this new forum. We should have a section just for the history of the dances. It's always an interesting read. |
| Posted by: highlandgirl26 21-Jan-2005, 07:07 PM |
| Hi all, Its been awhile since I was on the forum and posted but I just say this topic and I had to say hi. I am also a Highland dancer. I have been dancing for 16 yrs and love it. I didn't compete was always way to nervious to do it. I do take my exams every year. Hope to talk to you all more about the hobby that i love Jenn |
| Posted by: emerald-eyedwanderer 22-Jan-2005, 04:48 PM |
| Hi Jenn! It's nice to meet you. I hope you join us more often in this topic. Especially with your knowledge on the subject. Hope to see you around! |
| Posted by: Rindy1202 22-Jan-2005, 05:32 PM | ||
Welcome to our forum and hope you like the wonderful music. That is neat you know how to dance. 16 years is nothing to sneeze at you are real good I'm sure. I like your Avatar, I have that on a shirt. I love it! It will be nice hearing from you. Slainte |
| Posted by: Highland Lassie 28-Jan-2005, 08:09 PM |
Hi! It's Nice to know that so many people are interested in Highland dancing. I love to dance , it's alot of fun. I also love to compete. Although in the beggining i was very nervous about competing , but now its a breeze. I also meet up with my dancing buddies all over new england. I meet many other dancers at brahmar summer school of Highland dance which I attend every summer. The summer camp is alot of fun , It's also alot of hard work. We have to dance 6 hours a day (with breaks of course!) but it helps me alot with my dancing. I am Novice right now but I will soon be entering Intermediate  . i'm sure i'll do fine but im a little nervous. I hear there's another dancer on here! I hope to hear from you all soon! Happy Dancing! |
| Posted by: highlandgirl26 29-Jan-2005, 04:05 PM |
| Hi Dancing has been my life for forever. 16 yrs is a really long time, but I have loved every minute of it. I only regret not competing. I have always had a fear of performance. When I get infront of the examiner I freeze up. Im surprised that I have made it as far as I have. So I never wanted to get up infront of three people who would be comparing me to so many other dancers. I just know that I would totally forget everthing I know. If I could do it again, I would so compete. Dancing has always been fun for me. And it was a great way for me to get away with listening to the pipes for hours on end. Jenn |
| Posted by: Highland Lassie 25-Feb-2005, 10:05 PM |
Wow 16 years is along time! I love to compete. When I used to get nervous my dad would tell me to imagine your dancing at home again. So I imagined that and When i do that I forget that so many people are watching me. I love it. Although My brother and I are taking a break from competing , my younger sister will start competing before us this summer. It will be nice to go to some Highland games and just relax. I also get to bring our new pomerainion Pup and show her off!  Happy Dancing!! |
| Posted by: gwenlee 26-Feb-2005, 09:00 AM |
| Mabe you can post some pictures of your competition, and please let us know how you do. The other day we were talking in our Scottish Country Dancing group about all of us looking forward to the games not only to dance but to catch up with everyone. My family usually takes the pop-up camper or if it is near family we stay with them. Its always a lot of fun. congratulations on the new puppy whats her name? |
| Posted by: gwenlee 09-Mar-2005, 09:32 AM |
| Hello dancing feet and to all that love to dance. Has anyone been dancing lately? My daughter and I went to a Celtic Celebration in Atlanta last week end and danced, it was our first formal demo, we have been dancing this past year but only at the games or festivals so it was more relaxed. There was singing by the DeKalb Choral Guild, poetry, and then we Scottish Country Dancer ended the evening with a performance followed by audience participation. I am really looking forward to this years activities. And I hope all of you will write soon to let us know where your dancing feet are taking you. Until then make happy feet and share a smile keep dancing. |
| Posted by: Dalriada Dancer 20-Jun-2005, 07:40 PM |
| Hi everyone! I am a Highland Dance instructor, and dance mom. Just thought I'd introduce myself! |
| Posted by: gwenlee 21-Jun-2005, 04:28 PM |
| Nice to meet you Dalriada Dancer. I'm not a highland dancer but I enjoy watching it. I guess you can tell by my previous post I'm a Scottish Country Dancer. Keep us posted on what you are doing in the world of dancing feet. |
| Posted by: Rindy1202 22-Jun-2005, 09:18 PM |
| Welcome to you Dalriada Dancer, I hope you enjoy the music as well as the forum. I look forward to learning more about you- Slainte |
| Posted by: Dalriada Dancer 23-Jun-2005, 06:32 AM |
| Thanks for the warm welcome! Up here I teach 20 children under the age of 16 competitive and performance Highland dance. Two of which are my daughters. We do alot of community events to promote and preserve Scottish Dance. I teach a little SCD so the dancers experience it as well, though I am not a professional at it...just using a little book and my memory for SCD. We travel to competitions (most are 8 hours away) and the dancers fare pretty well. Most of them are beginners but I have a few in novice and one just moved into intermediate. I love Celtic music...any celtic music. I have it playing morning to night. It's the most motivational music and really inspires me in all aspects of my life!  |
| Posted by: Copar a'Beannichte 26-Aug-2005, 05:48 AM |
| Dear wizzard, There are quite some differences between Scottish Highland and country dancing. First of all their origins. Highland dancing in its earliest form originated as war- or triumph dances. The oldest one being Ghillie Callum, the sword dance. It is said that it is appr. a thousand years old, but there is no real proof for that. Originally the Highland dances were performed by men only at gatherings and the chieftains and noblemen would let the men compete to choose the best ones to perform at their courts. These dances used to be a part of military training until maybe 80 years or so ago. During the great war and the second world war many soldiers got killed and after these gruesome war years things changed. Thanks to the ladies Highland dancing was kept alive and still the majority of the dancers are girls. Up until the early 60s guys would seldomly been seen practising Highland dancing. This has fortunately changed .It takes quite some training to achieve the strenght and to be able to do the complicated steps that require a good sense of coördination. There are some similarities to the classical ballet training and there has been some influence , but in style they are not the same.In the last 1 1/2 century or so many other dances were choreographed and officially they are not Highland dances, they are the national- and other dances like The Scottish Lilt, Lady Flora Mc Donalds fancy, Irish jig and Sailors hornpipe. Thes dances are also competition dances and you will allmost allways see them during Highland games. But they are not Highland dances. Country dancing has a completely different origin, very much influenced by the French court dances and they were performed at balls and feasts by the people who attended. Contrary to the Highland dances these dances would be danced by more people together and consist of very intrecate figures where people would change partner very often . These dances are still very often danced at parties and gatherings but there are also a lot of demonstration teams where the level of dancing is very high and the technique is taken very seriously. Country dancing should not be confused with barn dances, there are similarities but these are much more just for fun dances where technique is not so important. You will find a lot of barn dances done at ceilidhs. I most certainly would advise you to go and have a try at Highland dancing if only to experience the difficulty of it, they look so simple from a spectators view but they are not. As a Highland dancer, but hardly an expert I hope my post is of any use to you. I am sure there are other dancers here that are able to provide you with much more and specific info. Marc. |