The picture one conjures up when the words Highland Dancing are mentioned is possibly of a bearded “Braveheart”-style warrior, arms held aloft, leaping over crossed swords and delivering guttural yells every so often.

But just a glimpse at any of today’s talented exponents of the art will quickly dispel that myth for ever!  Over the past few decades, due to many innovations in teaching technique and methods of “handing down” and “passing on the word”, the craft of Highland Dancing has been honed and polished into the artistic spectacle that can be admired today.

Highland Dancing was carried throughout the world by thousands of Scottish emigrants.  To this day, the steps and movements can still be seen at class and competition in countries like Australia, Sweden, New Zealand, etc.

In 1947, the Scottish Official Highland Dancing Association was instituted and from then it has grown into a dancing association that is proud to welcome ALL dancers.

So if you are interested in taking up Highland Dancing, be it up to professional, competitive standard of simply to keep yourself fit and healthy, then there is no time like the present to make enquiries of classes in your area!  For the raw beginner, a Highland Dance class can be a place to meet new friends and have some fun into the bargain!

So just how do you go about finding a highly-qualified, fully-certificated teacher to suit your needs?  A simple letter or phone call to our General Secretary will get you full details of your nearest SOHDA teacher.  Ensure your teacher is SOHDA approved – then you’ll be certain you will be receiving the best of tuition of the widest range of traditional dances around!

Most people think of the Highland Fling or Sword Dance whenever Highland Dancing is mentioned, and when you start attending classes these will probably be the first dances you will quickly learn.

The range of dances that our teachers are passing on to their pupils include Highland Dances, but dances with titles like “Linkumdodie”, “The Lassies of Kyle”, “Hebridean Laddie”, “Louden Lassies”, “The First of August”, “Miss Forbes”, “Aberdonian Lassie”, and “Tulloch Gorm” are also taught.

To help you learn Highland Dancing the SOHDA gives you every encouragement to further your knowledge.  Every teacher can supply all the essentials that are necessary to make every class a success – soft dancing shoes, swords, audio cassettes for class, practice and concert work, leaflets on theory and instruction booklets on all the dances.

The SOHDA regularly holds dancing examinations throughout its many branches.  Younger dancer members up to 12 years old can enter the basic Primary, Grade 1, Bronze and Silver exams.  For dancers from 13 to 16 years of age, there are the Star Award exams (which include more of the theoretical side of Highland Dancing, as opposed to actual dancing).  The Associate Teacher’s exam for dancers 16 to 18 years allows successful candidates to organise a dancing class.  After some training they can also adjudicate at indoor competitions.  The Full Teacher’s exam allows the successful candidate to become an adjudicator for competitions, Highland Games and examinations.

We have affiliated with similar dancing organisations throughout the world.  We are in constant communication with them and regularly exchange hints and suggestions on the steps and movements of the Highland Dances we all admire.  There is also an exchange of videos which show the various dances, steps, dress and history of each country.  These serve to remind us of the Scottish origins of the dances.  All these facilities are available to our members.

There is a wide choice of Highland Games dancing events organised by the SOHDA during the summer season and there are popular indoor competitions every weekend during the winter months throughout Scotland.  These culminate in Championship events in both Highland and Hebridean Dancing.  ALL dancers will be made most welcome!

So now that we’ve got you interested, why not contact our General Secretary and find out all you need to know about becoming a member of the SOHDA and start your career as a Highland Dancer – just write or phone.

Pauline Knox, 36 High Street, Dunbar, EH42 1JH.  Phone 01368-863 027