It's always good to laugh at something. Besides, I meant no disrespect, I find sword dancing quite fascinating. My mindset is that as long as the other guy knows it's just harmless fun, it's okay. Me and my friends for example constantly insult and belittle each other, but we all know we don't mean it. After all, if you can't laugh at yourself, life is a lot less fun.
It is exhausting I loved the Sword Dance the most out of all of the dances. I am in my 50's now I wish I could still do it, it was the best shape I was ever in when I was a dancer for all those years. Took a long time for my calf muscles and thigh muscles to finally get old, I still got pretty good legs to this day and that is from dancing. Keep up the good work ladies. Bring home those golds.
It was also my fave as a teen. Also loved the Seann Truibhas! Those were the days! 45 now and teaching my teen. If this doesn't get me back in shape, nothing will!!!
Search "Dance of Cossack girl with sword" if ye like lassies dancing with swords. I'm half Scottish, half Cossack...so its win-win fer me! Just wish I got tha Cossack tallness nae tha Scottish gnomeness! LOL
This is not part of Scottish culture - its largely an invention by one 'Jean Milligan' who choose to interpret Scottish step using ballet technique. There is a nice article on the cultural appropriation of Scottish step dance hear. www.siliconglen.scot/Scotland/10_3.html If want to see 'Real' Scottish dance type in 'Margie Beaton' into RU-vid
That was the whole point of it!! The "Sword Dance" was exclusively a MALE dance, that Highlanders performed to show off their fitness, as mercenary soldiers to foreign kings/queens! It was all about fitness/strength!
Nigel Franklin Yeah cheers :) It does take a lot of will power especially when you are feeling ill and tired. I once kicked the sword across the stage when I was just a beginner lol. It takes some power to do it with precision! I was one the few girls in the class - I guess I made it popular in my dancing school!
Your daughter has excellent technique. I was trained years ago by James McKenzie, former world champion, and a founder of the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing. I enjoyed very much watching your daughter perform. Thank you for sharing this. It brought back many great memories of the years I competed.
There is however a need for more elevation over the swords. James McKenzie used English bone china teacups under the hilt and sword. If any of the dancers did not jump high enough over the swords and broke a teacup, they paid for the teacup. I trained with him when I was 13. I was also adjudicated by Adeline Duncan whose daughter, Heather Jolley, was world champion. I so much enjoy watching your daughter perform my favourite highland dance. It brings back wonderful memories of when I competed. All the very best in your future competitions and endeavours in the highland dancing field.
Holy Hell she NAILED IT! She more than nailed it - FLAWLESS! The kicks, the straight back, the precision, the sheer BEAUTY!! Makes me wanna get a couple sabers and dance again ❤🤟🏴🇨🇦
She was awesome! I used to scottish country dance when I was younger and I always loved watching the highland dancers at different festivals and competitions.
This was one of my best dances, when I was competing! Totally miss the atmosphere at a competition. Your dancer is really good, @Barbara Gibson, reminds me of my sister and I when we were young. There's been a lot of changes in Highland dancing since was forced to stop, thanks to my knees giving up!
I remember when I was little and learning the sword dance. I got to bring my swords in for a school talent show and got to parade them around for a little while. It was one of 2nd grade me's proudest moments. 😂😂
Awesome. Greetings from Venezuela. Love the Highland people.
8 лет назад
Sorry for my bad english... This is the Dance to select the usefull warriors, if you could dance arund the swords you were able to fight in the war if not, you're not worth this! Ever tried to dance like this? I guess 90 % will be not worth it ;)
actually, I think this dance originated as a "good luck in hunting" dance... (see how the dancers' hold their hands in the shape of deer heads?)... I believe the military used to use these dances as a form of exercise, but I've never heard of soldiers being selected for battle according to their dancing skills... cute story though. :-)
Joseph LoGiurato - I've heard of dancing as a way to compete and show your skills. Russian Cossacks for example. Truth is stranger than fiction sometimes. Anything is possible.
Jacqueline I danced in competition for 16 years she used the same steps I used, the second step she used was a more difficult step gets you extra points when it comes down to medals. The harder the steps you use the higher your overall score. I didn't see any mistakes I watched her closely, she is an excellent dancer, her feet are arched her arms are placed correctly her fingers are where they should be, her posture is awesome and her high cuts are amazing. I would have given her the gold and no I don't know her. She is good.
Hi Lassielurv...I'd say that you could probably pick it up rather quickly because one of the hardest things about highland is being in good shape and able to jump (which you would have from Irish). It might be a little difficult to learn our basic positions at first, but most dancers who start and have any dance background usually pick it up pretty fast. I don't think highland would harm your irish, probably the biggest issue would be making sure you have time for both. Hope this helps!
My sister was at a big Competition in inverness today and she has only been doing highland dancing for 4 months and she hit her sword and it got so messed up she had to stop but in the fling she got a 3rd and 2 other dances but she did well
Love the minimalistic footwork of the black'n white girl. Not as exaggerated kicking and jumping as seems so popular now. Yet, why does't come the piper fully tuned?
@highlandabi I love these dances, I am spanish and the combination of the celtic culture, in general very interesting and attractive, with your people is very open(??) and enjoyable. Cheers! At least that's what my nearly decade old high school spanish got me :) From a layman's opinion, she seems very good, very interesting to watch, looks intense to dance!
Any McPake s out there? Or on maternal side Burrows ? Mcpakes danced,Burrows played music. Lol hills and dales? Still got grandmas many prize silver cups and her swords.
i watched a two-person sword dance at a celtic festival yesterday, and right at the very end the girl kicked it and screamed. i thought for a second it hit the boy she was dancing with.
It is. I was once told that fifteen minutes of Highland dancing was the equivalent of one hour of aerobics. I used to train for over six hours a day when I was competing at Premier level.
The origin of the dance is that they would loot their enemys' swords after defeating them in battle and put them on the floor and dance around them to celebrate their victory. And if they hit or touched one of the swords, it was bad luck for their next battle.
Yes this dance is difficult, but forget the dance for a moment... it's the tune "Ghillie Callum" that's the tough part! (very thickly ornamented Strathspey; not easy on the fingers!)
