Highland Dance

Highland Dance

The two main types of Scottish dance, Country Dance and Highland Dance, differ considerably in style and purpose. Country Dances have the character of ballroom or social dancing, while Highland Dances are performed solo, have precise, difficult movements, and require much stamina and coordination. 
Scottish Highland dancing is an ancient sport and artform, which originated as a way for Scottish warriors to stay fit during the winter and learn the complicated footwork necessary for fighting. As such, many of the traditional dances we do have military origin stories - the Highland Fling was a victory dance, the Sword Dance was an omen of good (or bad) luck prior to battle, and the Seann Triubhas tells the story of the Jacobite Rebellion. In the 19th Century, Scottish National dances were introduced in order for women to participate. Dances such as the Scottish Lilt, Flora MacDonald's Fancy, and the Village Maid are notable for their grace and balletic influence. Today, both men and women do both the Highland and Scottish National styles, in addition to character dances such as the Sailor's Hornpipe and the Scottish Version of the Irish Jig.

Highland Dance COMPETITION

Judges evaluate a dancer on three major criteria: timing, technique and deportment. While Highland Dances were originally danced by men only, nowadays they're one of the only sports where men and women compete alongside one another. Dance steps are standardized by the Royal Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing (RSOBHD) and competitions are held worldwide. The Highland Dance competition here at the Virginia Games is held annually on the Saturday of the Games. Come watch dancers of all levels, from age 5 to 50 and above!

Higland Dance sponsors

Many thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Highland Dance Stage 
by Mrs. Karen and the Hon. Patrick E. MacRae, FSA, Scot., including the following Awards and Medal Sets:* The Marguerite Reid Memorial Award* Juanita Summitt Memorial Award* Donald R. MacRae Memorial Award* Fredrick Wilkening Memorial Award* Capt. J.R. Dolley Memorial Award, Sponsored by His Children and Grand Children

Additional 2024 Sponsors:
Highland Dance - Most Promising Beginner, The Rowan and Monty Perkins Memorial Award, sponsored by Clan MontgomeryHighland Dance - Most Promising Novice, sponsored by Maria & Ed Ward
Medal sets sponsored in 2024 by:Rachel Hayes
Donald Fraser  In Memory of Iris Nimmo by James BreedenPrimary gifts are donated by the Mercier School of Dance 

OTHER STYLES OF CELTIC DANCING

Starting in 2022, on Sundays in the Highland Dance tent demonstrate a wide variety of performances of many different styles of Scottish and Celtic Dancing, in addition to more Highland Dancing, including but not limited to…
Scottish Country Dancing - the distinctively Scottish form of country dance, itself a form of social dance involving groups of couples of dancers tracing progressive patterns. A dance consists of a sequence of figures. These dances are set to musical forms (Jigs, Reels and Strathspey Reels) which come from the Gaelic tradition of Highland Scotland, as do the steps used in performing the dances. Traditionally a figure corresponds to an eight-bar phrase of music.
Scottish Step Dancing - a mix between Scottish Country Dancing and Highland Dancing’s Scottish National Dances, for solo dancers or groups. Step Dances also originate from 18th and 19th century dancing masters and have both French and Irish influences. These dances are not as standardized as Highland dances, and can vary greatly from region to region.
Irish Dancing - characterized by the rigid upper body and intricate footwork of its performers, Irish step dancing falls into two broad categories based on the shoes worn: 'hard shoe' and 'soft shoe' dances. 
Appalachian Clogging - a uniquely American style of dancing, it originates from the percussive step dancing brought over by Scottish and Irish immigrants in the 18th Century. It has also been influenced by traditional American Indian dances, African American buck dancing, and more recently, hip hop and ballet.

2025 Highland Dance Stage Schedule*

Saturday

8:30am - Pre-Premier Check-in
9:00am - Morning dancing begins
Beginner & Intermediate Lilt (4)
Novice & Intermediate Flora (4)
Primary 16 Pas de Basque 
Primary Pas de Basque & High Cuts
Beginner, Novice, Intermediate & Primary Fling (4)
Beginner, Novice, Intermediate, & Primary Sword (2&1)
Beginner, Novice, & Intermediate Seann Triubhas (3&1)
Pre-Premier Solo Open Choreography
Morning Awards
Lunch Break
12:30pm - Premier Check-in
1:00pm - Afternoon dancing begins 
Premier Jig (3&1)
Premier Lilt (4)
Premier Flora (4)
Premier Scotch Measure (4)
Premier Earl of Errol (4)
Premier Solo Open Choreography
Afternoon Awards