Scottish Dance: History and Styles

What is the name of the Scottish dance "with swords", which is performed in kilt and bagpipes? Its historical name is Sword Dance, in traditional form it is now performed with swords. However, the name "Hayland" is more often mentioned, and swords are not always present in the performance.

Some of today's Scottish dances are of indigenous origin, others are borrowed from neighboring peoples and have changed beyond recognition over time. Ballroom (paired) dances of Scotland can be divided into two main groups: cayley and country. In addition, there are solo dances, male and female.

Kaylee

This group includes paired dances of "native" origin: waltzes, polka, hornpipe, jig, tristeps, tosteps, quadrilles. The Scots invented for them many of their own pas, and national "imported" melodies were added to the "imported" melodies, for example, Straspey.

There were also home-grown customs: Scottish dance "Crazy Polka" - a kind of duel between dancers and musicians: who will break faster. Dance is most often under the curtain, after which they disperse to rest. The elements of the polka entered the Scottish tri-steppe and the steppe.

"Hornayips" (paired dances) can be of a mass character. This includes polka, quadrille, waltzes.

Scottish dance Cape Breton - a national variety of steppe, performed in hard boots. Cape Breton for 250 years, along with the settlers, he moved to Canada, thanks to which has survived to this day. In the twentieth - the twenty-first century was again brought to Scotland, where it had by that time been safely forgotten.

Scottish Country Dancing

This is also a pair dance, but performed a little differently: the male and female lines are facing each other. Sometimes four pairs are enough, but in some dances the number of pairs reaches sixteen. The partners converge and diverge, the lines intersect, the drawing can be quite complicated (something similar is for the Slavs - Russians, Ukrainians).

Hyland

An old Scottish dance, which came from the eleventh century, "Dance with swords." Originally was distributed among the highlanders, later descended into the valleys. According to legend, King Malcolm danced first on his crossed swords (his and his rival), celebrating the victory. Since then, "Hyland" - the main decoration of all military holidays in Scotland. Traditionally, this is a male dance, the emphasis is on athleticism and sharp movements. Currently, it is performed by the girls, too: bright and athletic, it fits perfectly into the dance culture of different countries. The Scottish dance "Highland" is performed with the accompaniment of bagpipes, the form of clothing is necessarily a kilt.

In the old days, the dance was part of the ritual before the battle. The legend is connected with him: if a warrior, when performing Hayland, injures his leg, he will get a wound in battle.

Ladys Step

Happened from ancient female solo dances. In contrast to the energetic "Hyland", "Lady Step" - soft and graceful. At the heart of all female Scottish dances are elegance and plasticity.

Revival of dance culture

His current worldwide popularity of Scottish dance owes a unique color, but not only. In the early twentieth century, thanks to the efforts of two enthusiasts, Isabel Stewart and Gene Milligan, a movement began to preserve the national dance culture. A group of associates collected a huge database - drawings, melodies, handwritten notes. This was the beginning of the Society of Ballroom Dance of Scotland, which in the middle of the twentieth century was awarded the status of Royal.