Welcome to Hawaii and the Hawaiian Island
Highland Dance group, Scottish Highland dancers who meet for classes in
Honolulu and Kailua on the island of Oahu. This site has information about
our classes and the traditional dancing of Scotland including Highland dancing,
Scottish National dances and Ladies Step dances.
Highland dances are connected with ancient Scottish folk customs. The present form evolved through the centuries as refinement in the general form of dance occurred, but the original basic steps and the themes were passed on through the years.
Highland dancing was originally done as military training for Scotsmen, back in the days when the English forbade the Scots to maintain a militia. Today, highland dancing is primarily an artform performed by males and females alike. While no longer military in nature, highland is still quite a workout - with leaps and jumps being integral to the art form. Today's highland dancing is subdivided into two categories of dance: Highland Dances and National Dances.
The Highland dances are performed in a traditional kilt (pictures 2 and 4 below) and are the more military and precise dances. These include the Highland Fling, the Ghillie Callum [or Sword Dance], the Seann Triubhas, and the Strathspey, Highland and Tulloch Reels.
The national dances, in comparison, are more graceful than the Highland dances. These developed to tell stories of Scottish life and heroes. Two popular dances are the Irish Jig and the Sailor's Hornpipe, each with their own unique costume. (The dancer below in the middle is performing the Sailor's Hornpipe.)
Most National Dances are danced by females in a specific dress known as the Aboyne, as In the 1st and 5th pictures below, while males have the option of wearing their kilt or tartan trews. , The most popular dances include the Scottish Lilt, Flora MacDonald's Fancy and Highland Laddie. Others include Blue Bonnets Over The Border, The Earl of Errol, The Village Maid, Scotch Measure, and The Dusty Miller.
The dancers below are competing in the Highland Dance Competition of the 20008 Hawaii Scottish Festival in Honolulu, Hawaii.
