It's always good to laugh at something. Besides, I meant no disrespect, I find sword dancing quite fascinating. My mindset is that as long as the other guy knows it's just harmless fun, it's okay. Me and my friends for example constantly insult and belittle each other, but we all know we don't mean it. After all, if you can't laugh at yourself, life is a lot less fun.
Search "Dance of Cossack girl with sword" if ye like lassies dancing with swords. I'm half Scottish, half Cossack...so its win-win fer me! Just wish I got tha Cossack tallness nae tha Scottish gnomeness! LOL
This is not part of Scottish culture - its largely an invention by one 'Jean Milligan' who choose to interpret Scottish step using ballet technique. There is a nice article on the cultural appropriation of Scottish step dance hear. www.siliconglen.scot/Scotland/10_3.html If want to see 'Real' Scottish dance type in 'Margie Beaton' into TH-cam
That was the whole point of it!! The "Sword Dance" was exclusively a MALE dance, that Highlanders performed to show off their fitness, as mercenary soldiers to foreign kings/queens! It was all about fitness/strength!
Nigel Franklin Yeah cheers :) It does take a lot of will power especially when you are feeling ill and tired. I once kicked the sword across the stage when I was just a beginner lol. It takes some power to do it with precision! I was one the few girls in the class - I guess I made it popular in my dancing school!
It is exhausting I loved the Sword Dance the most out of all of the dances. I am in my 50's now I wish I could still do it, it was the best shape I was ever in when I was a dancer for all those years. Took a long time for my calf muscles and thigh muscles to finally get old, I still got pretty good legs to this day and that is from dancing. Keep up the good work ladies. Bring home those golds.
It was also my fave as a teen. Also loved the Seann Truibhas! Those were the days! 45 now and teaching my teen. If this doesn't get me back in shape, nothing will!!!
Your daughter has excellent technique. I was trained years ago by James McKenzie, former world champion, and a founder of the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing. I enjoyed very much watching your daughter perform. Thank you for sharing this. It brought back many great memories of the years I competed.
There is however a need for more elevation over the swords. James McKenzie used English bone china teacups under the hilt and sword. If any of the dancers did not jump high enough over the swords and broke a teacup, they paid for the teacup. I trained with him when I was 13. I was also adjudicated by Adeline Duncan whose daughter, Heather Jolley, was world champion. I so much enjoy watching your daughter perform my favourite highland dance. It brings back wonderful memories of when I competed. All the very best in your future competitions and endeavours in the highland dancing field.
Holy Hell she NAILED IT! She more than nailed it - FLAWLESS! The kicks, the straight back, the precision, the sheer BEAUTY!! Makes me wanna get a couple sabers and dance again ❤🤟🏴🇨🇦
I did Irish dancing for 8 years and I get exhausted watching this haha I feel like it would be hard to dance some of those moves!
8 ปีที่แล้ว +33
Sorry for my bad english... This is the Dance to select the usefull warriors, if you could dance arund the swords you were able to fight in the war if not, you're not worth this! Ever tried to dance like this? I guess 90 % will be not worth it ;)
actually, I think this dance originated as a "good luck in hunting" dance... (see how the dancers' hold their hands in the shape of deer heads?)... I believe the military used to use these dances as a form of exercise, but I've never heard of soldiers being selected for battle according to their dancing skills... cute story though. :-)
Joseph LoGiurato - I've heard of dancing as a way to compete and show your skills. Russian Cossacks for example. Truth is stranger than fiction sometimes. Anything is possible.
This was one of my best dances, when I was competing! Totally miss the atmosphere at a competition. Your dancer is really good, @Barbara Gibson, reminds me of my sister and I when we were young. There's been a lot of changes in Highland dancing since was forced to stop, thanks to my knees giving up!
She was awesome! I used to scottish country dance when I was younger and I always loved watching the highland dancers at different festivals and competitions.
I remember when I was little and learning the sword dance. I got to bring my swords in for a school talent show and got to parade them around for a little while. It was one of 2nd grade me's proudest moments. 😂😂
Hi Lassielurv...I'd say that you could probably pick it up rather quickly because one of the hardest things about highland is being in good shape and able to jump (which you would have from Irish). It might be a little difficult to learn our basic positions at first, but most dancers who start and have any dance background usually pick it up pretty fast. I don't think highland would harm your irish, probably the biggest issue would be making sure you have time for both. Hope this helps!
Jacqueline I danced in competition for 16 years she used the same steps I used, the second step she used was a more difficult step gets you extra points when it comes down to medals. The harder the steps you use the higher your overall score. I didn't see any mistakes I watched her closely, she is an excellent dancer, her feet are arched her arms are placed correctly her fingers are where they should be, her posture is awesome and her high cuts are amazing. I would have given her the gold and no I don't know her. She is good.
@highlandabi I love these dances, I am spanish and the combination of the celtic culture, in general very interesting and attractive, with your people is very open(??) and enjoyable. Cheers! At least that's what my nearly decade old high school spanish got me :) From a layman's opinion, she seems very good, very interesting to watch, looks intense to dance!
Any McPake s out there? Or on maternal side Burrows ? Mcpakes danced,Burrows played music. Lol hills and dales? Still got grandmas many prize silver cups and her swords.
Yes this dance is difficult, but forget the dance for a moment... it's the tune "Ghillie Callum" that's the tough part! (very thickly ornamented Strathspey; not easy on the fingers!)
Love the minimalistic footwork of the black'n white girl. Not as exaggerated kicking and jumping as seems so popular now. Yet, why does't come the piper fully tuned?
I hear somewhere that name of Scotland was before Alba. We in northern highlands of Albania have old sword dances; facebook.com/FMimagesAlbania/videos/577562119094581/?hc_ref=PAGES_TIMELINE Also, in southern Albania, Albanians wear kilts called fustanella. They are different then your famous kilts. ; Half of south Albania was seeded to Greece state unfortunately, so Greeks use it as a national costume, guards atc.. facebook.com/Fustanella-Paintings-204073476290466/
My sister was at a big Competition in inverness today and she has only been doing highland dancing for 4 months and she hit her sword and it got so messed up she had to stop but in the fling she got a 3rd and 2 other dances but she did well
It is. I was once told that fifteen minutes of Highland dancing was the equivalent of one hour of aerobics. I used to train for over six hours a day when I was competing at Premier level.
The origin of the dance is that they would loot their enemys' swords after defeating them in battle and put them on the floor and dance around them to celebrate their victory. And if they hit or touched one of the swords, it was bad luck for their next battle.
*_* Ooooohh!!! Adoro estos bailes, soy española, y encuentro la cultura celta en general muy interesante y atractiva asi como su gente, los encuentro muy abiertos y divertidos. saludos!!
i watched a two-person sword dance at a celtic festival yesterday, and right at the very end the girl kicked it and screamed. i thought for a second it hit the boy she was dancing with.
@highlanderlover Oh..ok I asked because from a far she looks alot like my teacher and she dose sword dance and she posted it on her website but thanks for repling (P.S. sorry if I am spelling anything wrong)
I am 35% German - 15% Native American & 35% Scottish - 15% Dutch so I am very interested in learning primarily my Scottish and German ancestry. I think this dance is beautiful and it looks very difficult. Kudos to them! :)
see the second step that you do what is it called because i know how to do it but i want to tell my dance teacher that i can do it but i need to know what it is called or she won't know what i mean.
highlanderlover, your dancer was very good. Very strong dancing. Only bad thing is she misplaced her foot at the start of the second quick-time. I only noticed that after watching about 10 times. Good work! Very impressed. I love to do the sword dance. Especially the turning step. :D
When the floor is lava but there is no high ground.
LOL I have 3 grandchildren and the floor is lava at my house often ... and my sofa cushions and pillows are definitely worse for the wear!
It's always good to laugh at something. Besides, I meant no disrespect, I find sword dancing quite fascinating. My mindset is that as long as the other guy knows it's just harmless fun, it's okay. Me and my friends for example constantly insult and belittle each other, but we all know we don't mean it. After all, if you can't laugh at yourself, life is a lot less fun.
That’s why this dance is common in the highlands 😅
I have to say, when the title said "Sword dancing" I thought that meant they'd dance around HOLDING the sword....although this is great too XD
That's just silly
I do this type of dance and whenever I mention sword dance they think we hold the swords lol
Same that's what I thought
Lol! I thought so too!
Search "Dance of Cossack girl with sword" if ye like lassies dancing with swords. I'm half Scottish, half Cossack...so its win-win fer me! Just wish I got tha Cossack tallness nae tha Scottish gnomeness! LOL
Amazing! I hope the Scottish culture never dies! Long live Scotland!
SCOTLAND!!!! If you can't tell by now, I'm from Scotland. Im a Scottish lass and proud of it.
Yass lol
This is so weird to watch cuz I do highland dancing
Is the name shank scottish?
I just looked it up, and it looks like it may very well be. Thanks for watching!
This is not part of Scottish culture - its largely an invention by one 'Jean Milligan' who choose to interpret Scottish step using ballet technique. There is a nice article on the cultural appropriation of Scottish step dance hear.
www.siliconglen.scot/Scotland/10_3.html
If want to see 'Real' Scottish dance type in 'Margie Beaton' into TH-cam
Takes me back to my childhood... lol! I remember! One kick and the sword goes flying across the stage/floor
That looks like its stakes some serious calf strength.
I can't jump and prance around on tiptoes for 3 minutes straight.
That was the whole point of it!! The "Sword Dance" was exclusively a MALE dance, that Highlanders performed to show off their fitness, as mercenary soldiers to foreign kings/queens!
It was all about fitness/strength!
I do Highland
+Nigel Franklin It takes a lot of stamina to do it... I did it as a child.
Callista John Then I tip my hat to your cardio because I'd be lucky to do 30 seconds of this without gasping like a fish.
Nigel Franklin Yeah cheers :) It does take a lot of will power especially when you are feeling ill and tired. I once kicked the sword across the stage when I was just a beginner lol. It takes some power to do it with precision!
I was one the few girls in the class - I guess I made it popular in my dancing school!
It is exhausting I loved the Sword Dance the most out of all of the dances. I am in my 50's now I wish I could still do it, it was the best shape I was ever in when I was a dancer for all those years. Took a long time for my calf muscles and thigh muscles to finally get old, I still got pretty good legs to this day and that is from dancing. Keep up the good work ladies. Bring home those golds.
Sword Dance was my favorite as well. I still have those strong legs, but my knees are weak. Two slow and one quick. Highlanders
I still have my sword!
It was also my fave as a teen. Also loved the Seann Truibhas! Those were the days! 45 now and teaching my teen. If this doesn't get me back in shape, nothing will!!!
You're right, it's not easy, it takes strength and agility. The sword dance was my favourite but it was the hardest. These girls are good :)
Your daughter has excellent technique. I was trained years ago by James McKenzie, former world champion, and a founder of the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing. I enjoyed very much watching your daughter perform. Thank you for sharing this. It brought back many great memories of the years I competed.
There is however a need for more elevation over the swords. James McKenzie used English bone china teacups under the hilt and sword. If any of the dancers did not jump high enough over the swords and broke a teacup, they paid for the teacup. I trained with him when I was 13. I was also adjudicated by Adeline Duncan whose daughter, Heather Jolley, was world champion. I so much enjoy watching your daughter perform my favourite highland dance. It brings back wonderful memories of when I competed. All the very best in your future competitions and endeavours in the highland dancing field.
Holy Hell she NAILED IT! She more than nailed it - FLAWLESS! The kicks, the straight back, the precision, the sheer BEAUTY!! Makes me wanna get a couple sabers and dance again ❤🤟🏴🇨🇦
American citizen here and new to all of this. But I find myself fascinated with all things Scotland now. I love this.
trained highland dancer here and just watching, your daughter is one of the best I've seen! well done!
Amazizing fabtastic bravo mY it never deseprar.Long live Scotland👋👋👋
I did Irish dancing for 8 years and I get exhausted watching this haha I feel like it would be hard to dance some of those moves!
Sorry for my bad english...
This is the Dance to select the usefull warriors, if you could dance arund the swords you were able to fight in the war if not, you're not worth this!
Ever tried to dance like this?
I guess 90 % will be not worth it ;)
+Jörg Schwarzkopf -must have been a lot of women fighting, lol. Probably zero old, fat guys...
+S Harris,Sr. Made my Day
actually, I think this dance originated as a "good luck in hunting" dance... (see how the dancers' hold their hands in the shape of deer heads?)... I believe the military used to use these dances as a form of exercise, but I've never heard of soldiers being selected for battle according to their dancing skills... cute story though. :-)
Joseph LoGiurato - I've heard of dancing as a way to compete and show your skills. Russian Cossacks for example. Truth is stranger than fiction sometimes. Anything is possible.
+Jörg Schwarzkopf It is a victory dance.
This was one of my best dances, when I was competing! Totally miss the atmosphere at a competition. Your dancer is really good, @Barbara Gibson, reminds me of my sister and I when we were young. There's been a lot of changes in Highland dancing since was forced to stop, thanks to my knees giving up!
Wow, the sword dance is really hard, so I applaud these girls for doing it perfectly
as a Scotsman im proud of the girls.
She was awesome! I used to scottish country dance when I was younger and I always loved watching the highland dancers at different festivals and competitions.
My favorite dance, the sword dance. I marvel at it every time I see it! Beautiful dancers!
Great dancing always remember being relieved when the sword dance was over 🎉
Watching the dancers confirms my view that the "quick time" movement is a strathspey reel not even the purported pipe reel. I love this.
Three Amazing Dancers. Great to see the piper taking care to tune up properly!
I remember when I was little and learning the sword dance. I got to bring my swords in for a school talent show and got to parade them around for a little while. It was one of 2nd grade me's proudest moments. 😂😂
+2 attack
Absol used Sword Dance!
Absol's attack sharply rose!
Absols speed sharply rose!
XD
Hi Lassielurv...I'd say that you could probably pick it up rather quickly because one of the hardest things about highland is being in good shape and able to jump (which you would have from Irish). It might be a little difficult to learn our basic positions at first, but most dancers who start and have any dance background usually pick it up pretty fast.
I don't think highland would harm your irish, probably the biggest issue would be making sure you have time for both. Hope this helps!
Incredible strength and grace in your dancer!! @barbaragibson
My Great Uncle who fell in the first battle of Ypre 1915 , William George Wallis Brother of my Nan Daisy Ellen Wallis ,I dedicate this to both of you.
Jacqueline I danced in competition for 16 years she used the same steps I used, the second step she used was a more difficult step gets you extra points when it comes down to medals. The harder the steps you use the higher your overall score. I didn't see any mistakes I watched her closely, she is an excellent dancer, her feet are arched her arms are placed correctly her fingers are where they should be, her posture is awesome and her high cuts are amazing. I would have given her the gold and no I don't know her. She is good.
Oh she's beautiful! What elegant, high, strong leaps she does, very early on...
It took me so long to learn these steps. They're a lot of fun.
I love this dance
@highlandabi
I love these dances, I am spanish and the combination of the celtic culture, in general very interesting and attractive, with your people is very open(??) and enjoyable.
Cheers!
At least that's what my nearly decade old high school spanish got me :)
From a layman's opinion, she seems very good, very interesting to watch, looks intense to dance!
Lovely job! Love to watch my fellow dancers
I have to say,
I like diffrent dances around the world specially irish&scottish dance.
Im filipino and canadian.🏴🇮🇪🇨🇦
I did Irish when I was younger and now I'm doing Scottish Highland. It hasn't been hard to pick up! :)
I absolutely love this instrument !!
Asian parent: "Now do it blindfolded while playing a theremin."
Awesome. Greetings from Venezuela. Love the Highland people.
You performed this on my bday Feb. 2009
watch the movie Waterloo (1970) for an AWESOME sword dance....amazing.
Any McPake s out there?
Or on maternal side
Burrows ? Mcpakes danced,Burrows played music.
Lol hills and dales?
Still got grandmas many prize silver cups and her swords.
Very nice extension highcuts.
Wonderful dancers .
Yes this dance is difficult, but forget the dance for a moment... it's the tune "Ghillie Callum" that's the tough part! (very thickly ornamented Strathspey; not easy on the fingers!)
Love the minimalistic footwork of the black'n white girl. Not as exaggerated kicking and jumping as seems so popular now.
Yet, why does't come the piper fully tuned?
wonderful High cuts dancer!! cheers from Chile!
very well done!! especially the arms....having them up for that long is brutal but she kept them very strong! :)
Fantastic - I love to see this and listen to the music.
Great culture !
Robin Gow in the middle is a really amazing dancer!
I hear somewhere that name of Scotland was before Alba. We in northern highlands of Albania have old sword dances;
facebook.com/FMimagesAlbania/videos/577562119094581/?hc_ref=PAGES_TIMELINE
Also, in southern Albania, Albanians wear kilts called fustanella. They are different then your famous kilts. ; Half of south Albania was seeded to Greece state unfortunately, so Greeks use it as a national costume, guards atc..
facebook.com/Fustanella-Paintings-204073476290466/
Loved the music, and Awesome:)
"I'm to old to dance like them ..... so I better watch .... "
My sister was at a big Competition in inverness today and she has only been doing highland dancing for 4 months and she hit her sword and it got so messed up she had to stop but in the fling she got a 3rd and 2 other dances but she did well
Red kilt far (to me) right... gorgeous split kicks 👏🏼👏🏼
BeakerInShortShorts that is who she is filming that is he daughter
I miss highland dancing so so so much! I am asking my mum if I can join again ;(
I do Scottish dancing I have to competitions one in clough and one in Newcastle I am doing the swords Shawn trues and Highland fling ❤️
looks like some serious cardio.
It is. I was once told that fifteen minutes of Highland dancing was the equivalent of one hour of aerobics. I used to train for over six hours a day when I was competing at Premier level.
I use to do the sword dance my group got shorter over the years more people left each year.
I do highland dancing and its so great.
really nice, and highly technical indeed!
AUTHENTIC, THANK YOU
proud to be scottish..saor alba bu grath
Very good i like her highcuts !!! :)
samurai jack brings me here. it wouldb be an honour
This really stirs my ancestral blood.
The girl in the red rocked it!
I was waiting for them to pick up the swords Haha
me too
The origin of the dance is that they would loot their enemys' swords after defeating them in battle and put them on the floor and dance around them to celebrate their victory. And if they hit or touched one of the swords, it was bad luck for their next battle.
+AmonAmarthFan609 That's very interesting! Thanks ^^
Jamais marre des gens du nord
Does anybody who is a Highlander do the open beat step? Is it just me?
Beautiful job!
ik viint het de mooiste soorte muziek
Great song!
I support the Dancer in Black & White plaid. I cant see any red in it.
She did wonderful!
I'm a highland dancer and trust me it's not easy
*_* Ooooohh!!! Adoro estos bailes, soy española, y encuentro la cultura celta en general muy interesante y atractiva asi como su gente, los encuentro muy abiertos y divertidos.
saludos!!
i do scottish country dancing but i would love to learn the highland dancing :)
Absolutely awesome!!!! :D
i watched a two-person sword dance at a celtic festival yesterday, and right at the very end the girl kicked it and screamed. i thought for a second it hit the boy she was dancing with.
Aye once a Scott always a Scott LONG LIVE SCOTLAND
Also I think the hardest part in this dance is playing the bag pipes I can't even get the chanter going
there foot work remembers me on ballet.
The one in the middle is av.good dancer, The other just bounce and got tiered in the end u can see the way she was breathing !
I am a long descendent from the McDonald clan. That is us.
I’m a highland dancer!
lol the guy at the end wipes his face after all the girls did the dancing. XD
so intricate..
@highlanderlover Oh..ok I asked because from a far she looks alot like my teacher and she dose sword dance and she posted it on her website but thanks for repling (P.S. sorry if I am spelling anything wrong)
that as fantastic your pdb are beautiful
Outstanding :3
I am 35% German - 15% Native American & 35% Scottish - 15% Dutch so I am very interested in learning primarily my Scottish and German ancestry. I think this dance is beautiful and it looks very difficult. Kudos to them! :)
White people be like
No, I'm not American I'm 16% Celtic, 64% Italian, 15% American, 1% Mexican and 2% milk,
Nicole Woods Woods It is heritage.... Black people can have it as well. American isnt a heritage, everyone knows that. Well, besides you.
cierra janay Chill I was joking!
Nicole Woods Woods Ah, missed the punchline :)
***** Wow, must be nice lol
Wow! Amazing! :) I enjoyed watching ! :)
This looks absoluteley exhausting
see the second step that you do what is it called because i know how to do it but i want to tell my dance teacher that i can do it but i need to know what it is called or she won't know what i mean.
Great video
You can always tell which one's need to practice more, smaller shoes. Great going.
to all the people in the audience SHUT IT and watch.
highlanderlover, your dancer was very good. Very strong dancing. Only bad thing is she misplaced her foot at the start of the second quick-time. I only noticed that after watching about 10 times. Good work! Very impressed. I love to do the sword dance. Especially the turning step. :D
Ah yes, first 2&2 Sword video of the year!
Dance kilts are lighter than band and formal kilts. That's supposed to happen.