Dance History Archives: DANCE
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(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.
Scotland
1700s
n/a
Country Dance
My One and Only (1949)
1893 - Kirmess Opera House (Ohio)*
1944 - A Highland Fling
1937 - Treasure Chest of Dances
1949 - "ABC Barn Dance"
$ Ryan's Mammoth Collection: 1050 Reels, Flings, Jigs etc.
Vol. 20 No. 9 - Majesty Magazine
Plymouth Theatre (1944)
Edinburgh
England
France
Ireland
Speyside
Wales
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
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
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
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)
The Highland Fling and how to teach it
Grant, Horatio
1892
Electric City Press
Stage and Fancy Dancing
Notts, F.C.
1896
Ohio
Ira Gerswhin
Victor Marching Band*
Dinah Shore
Kamarinskaia*
Tony Cuffe
Karl Denver
Neil Gow
Bag Pipe
Corn Husking
Harp
Square Dance
Barn Dance
Huskin' Bee
stanzas of Ossian
bodhran
Fancy Dances
Restoration
Celtic Music
Gigue
Scotch snap
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.
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.