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Scottish Dance
Current list will be posted online soon!

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Royal Scottish Country Dance Society Atlanta Branch
The Royal Scottish Country
Dance Society - Atlanta Branch

Scottish Country Dancing is the traditional ballroom dancing of Scotland. Performed round the room, longwise, or square sets, one can see the intricate patterns of the dance unfold as the couples progress through the dance. Scottish country dances, unlike the folk dances of most other countries, do not seem to have been confined to one grade of society only. On the contrary, they were danced and enjoyed in the common by both laird and tenant or crofter. Thanks to the effort of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, these national dances of Scotland have been preserved.

The technique of the dance is consistently taught, whether the classes are in Scotland, Japan or the United States. When dancers meet from around the world, and this is not uncommon, they all dance the same standard set by the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society.

There are only five steps in the traditional dances. The skip change of step, the slip step, and the pas de basque are used in reels and jigs. The other two steps appear only in the Strathspey. The three tempos are jig, reel and Strathspey, the latter being slower and smoother than the first two, but more demanding in strength and balance.

Glencoe School of Scottish Highland Dance

Glencoe School of
Scottish Highland Dance - Mary Wilson Recknagel, Director Fellow

Scottish dances are ancient in origin dating back to the 11th and 12th centuries. These dances were expressions of both personal and social emotions - joy, victory in battle, successful hunting, courtship, or perhaps symbolic of one's work.

Some of these dances of olde include the Highland Fling, the Sword Dance, Seann Tribhas "old trousers", the Scottish Lilt, Scottish version of the Irish Jig, and the Sailors Hornpipe. For more information about classes or performances, email glencoehighlanddancing@yahoo.com.

Carson Nelson

 

Carson Nelson, age 12, of Spring Hill, Florida (formerly of Blairsville, Georgia) began studying highland dance at age 8. She is a premier level highland dancer and studies under Diane Dubock. She enjoys going to highland games and competitions, tattoos and dance exhibitions. When she is not dancing she likes to play the piano and spend time with her friends and cats. See Carson at this year's Ceilidh reception!

 

 

What is Strathspey? The Strathspey is a Scottish folk dance in quick common time, similar to the reel, but with dotted rhythms. The name derives from the Strath (valley) of Spey and is first heard of in 1780, though dances of the kind are much older. A Scottish country dance will typically consist of Strathspeys, jigs, and reels. The Strathspey step is a slower and more stately version of the skip-change step used for jigs and reels. The strathspey also forms part of the musical format for competing pipe bands - modern high grade bands are required to play a March, Strathspey, and Reel for competition purposes."

 

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