(This page deals with the origins and Highland fling background.)
    The Highland Fling was created sometime during the 1700s in the Scottish Highlands (Scotland.) It is considered a war dance as the dancers were originally military men. The dance is tailored after the Ghillie Challum Sword Dance after victory. It was originally danced by males on a Targe (small round Shield with a center spike) which is said to be why the dancers dance in place to celebrate their victories after battle. To dance a reel was at one time believed to be one of the signs of witchcraft (aka: 'reill.) This reel is declared by some to be of Celtic origin, and possibly indigenous to Britain, but it was the Danish and Scottish National dance nevertheless.

    Later the dance would also be used to pick the best males who portrayed the best dancer and the most stamina as the Kings Guards. There is also a nice little folklore legend about a boy hunting a deer and upon returning home, retelling the story thru dance, the arms raised above the head

represent antlers which became known as the Highland reel. Although called the Highland Fling it is also a reel and the Scots dance their reels for the reel's sake; rather than a simple excuse for a social gathering, or a means for a flirtation.

     The Scot arrives on the dance floor as he would on the drill square, and he dances until he is tired out, rarely looking at his lady partner (if he has one), and in fact caring not at all with whom he dances. The Highland Fling is usually performed by three or four persons to the duple rhythm music of the Strathspey.

    The Strathspey derives its name from the valley of the Spey, it is closely allied to the reel, but it is slower, yet it calls for more exertion, and abounds in quick motions. The term "Fling" expresses the kick which characterizes the step. When a horse kicks by merely raising one leg and striking with it, he is said, in grooms parlance to "fling like a cow." This is what the Highland dancer does; he dances on each leg alternately, and flings the other one in front and behind.

    The figure of the reel is perhaps one of the most beautiful that can be exhibited. A line of beauty, and the general air of the dance should indicate gaiety and good will. It is a gliding dance, usually performed by two couples, and its movements differ slightly according to locality, the principal point, which is the same in all, being the circular form. When performed by two couples it is called a foursome reel; When by three couples, a six some reel, the difference being in the music, with a corresponding difference in the steps and revolutions. In competition, this dance is done with either four or six steps, depending upon the dancer's ability.

    In America, there are dance groups of the Highland Fling, step dancers, cloggers etcetera but most folks incorrectly consider it as a part of the Square or Barn Dance family whether actually danced today or not.

Birth Place

Creation Date

Creator

Dance Type

Scotland

1700s

n/a

Country Dance

Posters, Lobby Cards etc.

Sheet Music Covers

Ballets / Stage

My One and Only (1949)

1893 - Kirmess Opera House (Ohio)*

1944 - A Highland Fling

Publications

Television

1937 - Treasure Chest of Dances

1949 - "ABC Barn Dance"

$ Ryan's Mammoth Collection: 1050
Reels, Flings, Jigs etc.

Vol. 20 No. 9 - Majesty Magazine

Night Clubs

Theaters

Locations

n/a

Plymouth Theatre (1944)

Edinburgh

England

France

Ireland

Scotland

Speyside

Wales

related Films

Various related Historic Music Titles

1894 - Highland Dance Movie

42d Highland Regiment (hf)

1896 - Chirgwin Plays a Scotch Reel

Belles Edinboro' (hf)

1897 - Country Dance, A

Bonnie Banks Of Ayr

1897 - Highland Fling, by the Gordon Highlanders

Bonnie Lass O' Bon-Accord

1898 - Highland Cross Sword Dance

Bonnie Lass O' Fyvie

1898 - Highland Fling (I)

The Cameron Highlanders

1898 - Highland Fling (II)

Caber Feidh: The Deer's Antlers (hf)

1898 - Highland Reel

Cropie's Strathspey (hf)

1898 - Scotch Reel

Domino Highland Fling (hf)

1929 - Barn Dance, The

First Flirtation Fling (hf)

1936 - Highland Fling

Fling Dang Reel

1938 - Arkansas Traveler, The

Forest Flower (hf)

1943 - National Barn Dance

Gille-Callum

1/5/1944 - Pathe Newsreel - "Scott's Dancing" (Sword)

Here Awa' (hf)

1947 - Hollywood Barn Dance

Highland Fling (hf)

9/4/1947 Pathe Newsreel: Clans Gather At Cowal Games

Highland Skip (hf)

1949 - The Barkleys of Broadway (Astaire / Rogers)

Highland Whiskey (hf)

1957 - New Adventures of Charlie Chan #4

Lord Moira's Highland Fling

1986 - Lord of the Dance/Destroyer of Illusion

Marquis Of Huntly's, the (hf)

1993 - Lord of the Dance

Marquis Of Huntly's Snuff Mill (hf)

$ 1997 - Amazing Grace: A Real Highland Fling

Marquis Of Huntly's (Strathspey)

1997 - Lord of the Dance

Mugby Jim's Highland Fling

2001 - Lord of the Dance

My Bonnie Laddie (hf)

Lovejoy: Highland Fling'

My One and Only (1949) (hf)

Pig Town Fling (hf)

Pride Of The Stage Fling

Reel o' Tulloch (hf)

Scottisch American Highland Fling

CD's

The Bee's Wing Hornpipe

$ Amazing Grace: Real Highland Fling CD

The Earl Of Errol (hf)

$ Celtic Crossover CD

The Music O' Spey (hf)

$ Fire on the Mountains: 1927-50s CD

The Rakish Highlander Reel

$ Highland Pipes & Drums CD

The Spey In Spate

$ King of the Highland Pipers CD

Tibbie Inglis' Fancy Fling

$ Pipes & Drums of Scotland CD

Tullochgorum (hf)

Village Bells Highland Fling

Other Related Dances of the time...

Argyll Broadswords

Earl of Errol

Old Paul Jones

Six some Reel

Arkansas Traveler

Flowers of Edinburgh

Old Zip Coon

Square Dances

Barn Dances

Foursome Reel

Papa Stour Sword Dance

Seann Truibhas (Old Trousers)

Blue Bonnets

Ghillie Challum Sword Dance

Pas de Basques

Shepherd's Crook

Buck and Wing

Gigue (see Jig)

Pigeon Wing

Step Dance

Can Can

Hielan' Laddie

Reel and Half Tulloch

Strathspey

Cape Breton Step Dance

Highland Reel

Reels (Scottish)

Sword Dance

Clog

Hornpipe

Rinceadhfada (Rinkey)

Victory Dance

Come Ashore

Husking Dance

Ring Dance

Virginia Essence

Contre Dance

Jolly Tar

Schottische

Virginia Reel

Country Dances

Marquis Of Huntly's HF

Scots Lassie Dance

Waltz

Deeside Lilt

Miss Forbes

Scottish Lilt

witches' dance or 'reill

Morris / Moresca Dance

Seann Truibhas, the

War Dances

Dancers, Choreographers etc.

Subscriptions

Astaire & Rogers

Jilly McKirdy (1950s)

$ News Of The Highlands (newspaper)

Barbara McKirdy (1960s)

Leslie Temple* (1893)

$ Highland Echo (Mag)

Francis Peacock (d.1807)

Miss McKirdy (1950s)

$ Southern Highlands News

Gordon Highlanders (1898)

Rebecca Young* (1893)

J.D. Platt Jr.* (1893)

Jefferson Crane* (1893)

Books, Magazine Articles on the dance...

Title

Author

Date Published

Publisher

The Highland Fling and how to teach it

Grant, Horatio

1892

Electric City Press

Stage and Fancy Dancing

Notts, F.C.

1896

Ohio

Vintage Musicians etc.

Vintage Bands

Vintage Singers

Poets / Writers

Ira Gerswhin

Victor Marching Band*

Dinah Shore

n/a

Kamarinskaia*

Tony Cuffe

Karl Denver

Neil Gow

Misc. Research Words that may be related ... to help your searches

Bag Pipe

Corn Husking

Harp

Square Dance

Barn Dance

Country Dance

Huskin' Bee

stanzas of Ossian

bodhran

Fancy Dances

Restoration

Celtic Music

Gigue

Scotch snap

The Basic Step:

Part One:
solo dance, start with left arm up and right hand on hip,
1) One hop on left foot while extending right toe (pointing or heel raised) to right... ]\.,
2) One hop on left again while bringing right foot back to left ankle, point right toe down.
3) One hop on left foot while extending right toe (pointing or heel raised) to right... ]\.,
4) One hop on left again while bringing right foot up an forward, pointing toe down.

Second Part:
is the same as above except alternate to other foot on count five, as well as alternating
to other arms (tight up) and (left) Hands. Change arm positions on first hop count 5, then six,
then seven, then eight (full Phrase).

The arm that is raised is curving towards (hand over) the head making a 'C-shape'.
Hand that is on the Hip have the fingers going towards the rear, thumb downward. Dancer can turn
or rotate while doing these step making a quarter turn each beat and hand/arm use is very important.

The dance concludes with a bow, then an exit of the floor.

Other

Highland Fling Cocktail:
1 1/2 ounces Scotch whisky,
3/4 ounce sweet vermouth,
2 dashes orange bitters,
1/2 cup crushed ice,
1 Olive.
Combine all the ingredients except the olive in a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously.
Strain into a cocktail glass. Add the olive.
Serves one.