| Words 'Scotland' and 'dance' for many immediately | | | | arranged in lines facing each other or in squares, |
| conjure up mental pictures of swinging kilts. These | | | | moving through a repeating series of prescribed |
| aren't just cliches: since the 18th century, dance has | | | | steps and movements which eventually ends with all |
| always had an important place at all levels of Scottish | | | | the dancers back in their original formation. Individual |
| society and even today, it is still very much a living | | | | dances - of which there are literally thousands, with |
| tradition. There are generally three different styles of | | | | new ones being created all the time - are often quite |
| Scottish traditional dance: ceilidh dancing, country | | | | intricate and require a fair degree of technique, |
| dancing and Highland dancing. | | | | mobility and grace. |
| The first one is the most accessible form of our | | | | Unlike the freeform ceilidh dancing, this dancing is |
| traditional dancing. The basic dances are all fairly easy | | | | strictly regulated and standardised. Under the gaze of |
| to master, are few in number and comprise mostly | | | | the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, the form |
| round-the-room and set dances. The emphasis is | | | | and movements of each dance are agreed and |
| firmly on having fun and being sociable - there is none | | | | published so that its 25,000 members across the |
| of the regulation and competition that marks the | | | | globe learns the authorised version. While this may |
| other forms of traditional dance and the dress-code | | | | stifle individual creativity, it does allow people to |
| is invariably 'come-as-you-are'. Key ingredients of a | | | | come together from all over the world and enjoy the |
| good ceilidh include enthusiasm, a good band, and | | | | common language of dance. It is important to have a |
| usually - but not essentially - drink. Ceilidh dancing is | | | | proper uniform, that migh also improve a self |
| taught to schoolkids across the country so most | | | | confidence, especially for beginners. The easy way of |
| Scots grow up with it, which is no doubt why it's a | | | | having a nice suit is a kilt hire and of course most |
| regular feature of weddings and other social | | | | popular is kilt hire UK. |
| gatherings, such as Burns Suppers. In the past | | | | In contrast to ceilidh and country dancing, Highland |
| decade or so, however, Glasgow and Edinburgh have | | | | dancing is performed competitively, usually by |
| witnessed an explosion in the ceilidh's popularity as a | | | | youngsters. The dances are mostly solo |
| weekend entertainment and have seen a number of | | | | performances, where the emphasis is on the precise |
| ceilidh clubs emerge. | | | | execution of intricate footwork. The standard of |
| The next one - Scottish country dancing is much | | | | competitive performance is very high and thanks to |
| more organised affair than ceilidh dancing. The dances | | | | a number of regulatory bodies in different countries, |
| involve combinations of up to five couples, usually | | | | competitions often have an intenational flavour. |