Dances

The Highland Fling was a dance of victory in battle. Traditionally, the ancient warriors and clansmen performed this dance on the small round shield, or targ, which was carried into battle. The quick footwork and dexterity of the dancer’s moves can be easily understood when it is pointed out that most targs carried a pinpoint sharp spike of steel projecting from its center. A careless step could be more than a little painful.

The Ghillie Callum dance was an ancient dance of war of the Scottish Gael. It is said to date back to King Malcolm Canmore. The Ghillie Callum is one of the oldest and most known dances of Highland Dance. It is said that the original Ghillie Callum was a Celtic prince who was a hero of mortal combat against one of MacBeth's chiefs at the Battle of Dunsinane in 1504. The Celtic prince is said to have taken the chief's sword, crossed over it with his own on the ground before him, and danced over them both in exultation.

Known as Scottish National dances, these dances have a more modern origin. In America, National dances were not danced in competition until the 1960s. The attire worn by female dancers is called the Aboyne dress, named after the Aboyne Highland Games of Scotland where up to this day, the wearing of the kilt is strictly forbidden to women. The National dances are very similar to Highland dances, but the style is more flowing and balletic. These dances require a lot of skill to execute correctly, and spectators will note that often the rhythms are more complicated than in conventional Highland dancing.