Tomintoul, UK. 20th July, 2013. Highland reel dancers at the annual Scottish games and gathering held on the 3rd Saturday in July, at the showground in the village. This highland village, hosts a sporting, historical and traditional event during July, in the Cairngorms National Park; One of the best and most famous Highland Games in Scotland. Highland gatherings have a long tradition and history when rival Clans competitors, musicians and dancers, who were important for the prestige of the clan chieftain's, would compete against each other wearing clan tartan in sporting events.
Highland Dancing should not be confused with Scottish Country Dancing. The Highland Dance is a style of competitive solo dancing developed in the Scottish Highlands from steps taken from the French Court, probably through Mary Queen of Scots, where this style of dance was performed by the Scottish gentlemen who served in the French King’s Bodyguard. Forms of these dances had occurred much earlier in Scotland of course, the oldest being the Sword Dance which dates from 1054. Following a duel with claymore swords, the victor took his victim’s weapon and crossed it with his own on the ground. He then danced over the naked blades in the ecstasy of victory. Highland Dancing is very technical requiring considerable stamina and formed part of the physical training of the Highland Regiments and travelled through the United Kingdom, the New World and the Commonwealth with them. It evolved further during the 19th and 20th Centuries in competitions held at public events such as Highland Games and has been subject to many influences, ballet for example. At early Highland Games the dances were only performed by male performers, however, as women were not expressly forbidden from taking part, a girl called Lorna Mitchell entered a competition. She has been followed enthusiastically by other female dancers and today they make up over 95% of all entrants.
Size: 3564px × 2376px
Location: Tomintoul, Scotland, UK
Photo credit: © MediaWorldImages / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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