Scottish Highland Dancing

John Knox once derogatorily referred to one of Lord Sempill's ancestors as "the dancer". He much disapproved of the habit, and probably would have banned it if he could. Fortunately, this great tradition is alive and well, and practised all over the world. The actual disciplines and dance routines are quite recent innovations, but their origins can be traced back to Malcolm Canmore, who reigned in the 11th century.

Regardless of the various interpretations, it is beyond doubt that dexterity was an essential attribute of the successful warrior, and the early references to the Sword Dance and the Highland Fling show this to be the case. What is much more fascinating is that what was once strictly a male preserve has in fact now become dominated by women. Even as recently as the Victorian era, the majority of dancers would have been male, and it was only in the early 19th century that the first female dancer was recorded. Today, the dancers are an integral component of all highland games, bringing a wonderful ingredient of youth and colour.