FAQs

We recognize that there is a lot to learn when starting a new sport! Highland dancing is steeped in tradition, details, and unwritten customs that may be overwhelming to new dancers and dance parents. This page is definitely not a replacement for a one-on-one conversation with your dancer's teacher, but to make things easier we've tried to answer some of the most commonly asked questions below. Visit the School Policies page for information about classroom expectations, tuition, dress code, etc.

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How (and how much) should I practice at home?

Just like learning a musical instrument, practicing at home in between classes is vital for every dancer to continue to improve. We recommend practicing every other day: 5-10 minutes for Primaries, 20-30 minutes for Beginners, and an hour for Premiers.

VIDEOS:

MUSIC:

FITNESS:

Where do I purchase ghillies?

Purchasing ghillies for the first time can be a bit intimidating, so do not hesitate to ask your teacher for guidance! Primaries and new beginners may initially wear black ballet slippers, Irish soft shoes, or similar dance pumps. Proper ghillies are required for competitions.

When purchasing ghillies, please pay careful attention to sizing - it may even be helpful to measure the dancer's foot. Ghillie sizing is NOT the same sizing as US street shoes and may vary drastically depending on what brand you get. Ghillies are meant to fit snuggly, but not uncomfortably, and often need to be broken in prior to dancing - the leather will stretch! Some of the following stores have a wide selection of fun colors, but please make sure that the ones you purchase are black leather (though the eyelets/stitching might be black, red, white, etc).

For new dancers, we recommend buying ghillies from Highland X Press.

Other suppliers include Highland Pointes, Tartantown, Celtic Corner Store, and Antonio Pacelli.

What outfits do I need for competitions/shows?

The following information is about outfits worn for performance, competition, and exams. ASHD's dress code for classes may be found here.

For competitions and most performances, Highland dancers wear very specific traditional outfits. Beginner dancers will first need a Highland outfit: a kilt. More advanced dances will required additional outfits: Aboyne, Jig, and Hornpipe. For exact guidelines, look at the official RSOBHD dress code. Prior to making a purchase, be sure to run it by your teacher. 

For USED outfits:

For NEW outfits:

Most serious dancers prefer to purchase custom-made outfits. However, these are quite a big investment and we do not recommend this option for new dancers and children who are still growing. If you are going to buy new, “kilties” are a good choice for children, who would outgrow a regular, more expensive kilt very quickly.

Make sure you're purchasing a dancer's kilt! Some of these sites also sell regular kilts which would not be suitable for Highland dancers. An easy way to tell is that dancers' kilts are usually made of "dress" tartan, which has large stripes of white. It does not matter which clan tartan you get - while some dancers have family tartans which also make good dancers' kilts, most dancers choose their tartan based on what's available or what pattern they like.

These are some of our favorite suppliers for new outfits (both custom-made and off-the-rack): 

I want to learn more about Highland dancing.

As a worldwide sport, Highland dancing is governed by the Royal Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing, more commonly known as the RSOBHD. This organization publishes the textbooks in which all Highland dances are written down, certifies adjudicators for competitions around the world, and acts as an umbrella organization, governing all of the others mentioned below.

Besides the RSOBHD, there are two other types of organizations: national governing bodies and examining bodies. Here in the United States, our national governing body is ScotDance USA. This is a professional organization which also organizes all Highland dance competitions in the United States. Our examining body is the British Association of Teachers of Dancing. More commonly known as the BATD, this organization certifies teachers via professional exams and offers amateur dance theory exams to dancers of all ages and levels (a.k.a. "medal tests").

HISTORY:

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 noticeable for their grace and balletic influence. Today, both men and women perform and compete in 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. Learn more.

How do Highland dance competitions work?

Dance competitions get a bad rap in the media, with shows like “Dance Moms” out there, but not to worry! Highland dance competitions are nothing like what you see on TV. They are supportive, family-friendly, and an all-around positive experience:

The Primary category is specifically designed for the very youngest dancers, ages 4 through 6. Dancers are ready to compete once they know the “16 Pas de Basques” and the “Pas de Basques & High Cuts” dances and can do them independently to music. The goal at this age is to help dancers get used to being up on stage and fall in love with Highland!

Most Primaries only compete in 16 Pas de Basques and Pas de Basques & High Cuts, but over time, as they learn other dances, they may choose to also compete in those.

The Beginner category is for all dancers ages 7 and up - including both those who are just starting to compete as well as those who previously competed as a Primary. As a general rule of thumb, dancers are ready to compete once they know the Highland Fling and the Sword danced and can do them independently to music. 

Once a Beginner earns six stamps, they will progress to the next level: Novice. Novice dancers do all the same dances as Beginners, except they get stamps for National dances as well as Highland. After earning six stamps as a Novice, they will progress to Intermediate. At the intermediate level, they add on four new dances: Highland Laddie, Barracks Johnnie, Sailor's Hornpipe, and Irish Jig. Finally, after earning six stamps as an Intermediate, they will progress to Premier. Premiers may compete in all of the dances and are eligible to participate in championships.

Interested in competing? Talk to your teacher!

What are championships?

While Highland dancing doesn't have anything like the Olympics or the Super Bowl, it is a competitive sport and we do have championships.

Once a dancer reaches the Premier level they are eligible to participate in championships. These are special competitions which always include a 6-step Fling, a 3&1 (or 2&2) Sword, a 4&2 Seann Triubhas, and some sort of Reel (usually a Strathspey & Reel, Strathspey & Half Tulloch, or Full Tulloch). The RSOBHD publishes a list of "championship steps" every year, telling dancers around the world which steps they must do and in which order at all championships that year - failing to dance these steps results in immediate disqualification.  

REGIONALS:

Since we are in Virginia, ASHD belongs to the Southeast region of ScotDance USA (but ASHD dancers living in DC or Maryland belong to the East region). Every spring, Premier dancers head to the Savannah Scottish Games to compete in the Southeast Regional Championships. From there, the top three overall dancers in each age category will advance to Nationals.

NATIONALS:

Every July, dancers from across the country gather in a host city to compete in the ScotDance USA National Championships, culminating in the United States Inter-Regional Championship, more commonly known as USIR. 

WORLDS:

The World Championships are held annually in Scotland at the Cowal Highland Gathering, but they are run a little bit differently than Nationals. Dancers do not need to have placed in a national championship in order to compete -- instead, any Premier dancer age 12 or above from anywhere in the world may compete on Thursday in the preliminary round. From there, the top 20 in each age group (Juveniles: 12-15, Juniors: 16-17 and Adults: 18+) advance to the finals on Saturday. The three winners on Saturday are that year's World Champions! You can follow along via a livestream available on their website.

What are the different dances we do?

There are four different categories within Highland dancing:

HIGHLAND DANCES:
These are the oldest, most famous dances that we do. Many of them have military origins and are characterized by their strength, power, and precision. All dancers wear the kilt when dancing Highland dances.
Dances include: Highland Fling, Sword Dance, Seann Triubhas, Reel of Tulloch

NATIONAL DANCES:
National dances were originally thought of as women's dances, even though they are done by dancers of all genders. They are characterized by their grace and balletic influences. For most National dances, females wear a different outfit called an Aboyne.
Dances include: Scottish Lilt, Flora MacDonald's Fancy, Village Maid, Blue Bonnets

CHARACTER DANCES:
Character dances tell a story, more so than any other dances. The are percussive in nature and are more similar to tap. They're also the only dances which each have their own outfit, and jig is the only dance where dancers wear hardshoes instead of ghillies.
Dances include: Scottish Version of the Irish Jig, Sailor's Hornpipe

CHOREOGRAPHY:
Unlike all the other dances above, which are written down in textbooks regulated by the RSOBHD, in choreographies dancers put a modern twist on Highland dancing by combining traditional movements in unique combinations to different types of music.