The Highland Fling is one of the oldest of the traditional Highland Dances.  The Fling was a danced to celebrate a victory following a battle and driving away evil spirits.  The warriors made this dance a feat of strength and agility by dancing on their upturned shields, or targe.  The targe weighed approximately 5 lbs., strong enough to withstand the thrust of a bayonet, decorated with brass studs and plates, with a long spike in the center.  It was important to stay in one spot during this dance or risk serious injury.  Agility, nimble footwork, and strength allowed the dancer to avoid the sharp spike, which often projected five to six inches upwards.  Thus The Fling is danced in one place.

The Sword Dance is the ancient dance of war of the Scottish Gael and is said to date back to King Malcolm Canmore (Shakespear's MacBeth). Tradition says the original Ghillie Callum was a Celtic prince who was a hero of mortal combat against one of MacBeth's Chiefs at the Battle of Dunsinane in 1504. He is said to have crossed his own claymore (the two-handed broadsword of Scotland) and crossed it over the sword of the defeated Chief and danced over them both in exultation.

This dance of exultation became a tradition among the highland warriors, and in subsequent battles, clansman would cross their swords and dance around them in the same way. In addition to being a test of skill and agility, it was believed that if they could complete the dance without touching the swords, it was a good omen that they would be victorious in the coming battle.

In the first step the dancer performs the steps outside the sword or "addresses" the sword. Subsequent steps are danced over the crossed blades, but notice that once inside the blades, the dancer never dances with his back turned to the swords ~ only a fool would turn his back on a weapon. It requires tremendous dexterity not to displace the swords.

To prove the mettle and strength of our "Warrior Scot" the dancer will clap his hands together near the end of the dance to tell the piper to increase the tempo. The hopping over the swords is where the term "hopscotch" originated, instead of swords the children used lines to jump over.

Pronounced "shawn trews", the literal translation from Gaelic means "old trousers". This dance is reputed to date from the rebellion of 1745 when Bonnie Prince Charlie challenged the might of England at Culloden, and lost. As a penalty, Highlanders were forbidden to wear the kilt.

Seann Triubhas is a dance of celebration developed in response to the repealing by the English of the Act of Proscription in 1747, which restored to the Scots the right to wear their kilts and play the bagpipes once more.

The first part of the dance comprising of graceful, flowing movements, is supposed to mock the restrictions imposed by the foreign trousers, while the movement of the second part clearly depict the legs defiantly shaking and shedding the hated trousers and returning to the freedom of the kilt. The dance then progresses from slow time to quick time as the final celebration of the rediscovered freedom.

Reels are the only Highland Dances danced by more than one person.  The Reel is danced by a team of 4 dancers, initially beginning in a line, and dancing a 'figure of eight'.  In competition, all dancers are judged separately.  The Reel is said to have started in a church on a cold winter morning when the minister was late to service.  The parishioners tried to keep warm by stamping their feet, swinging each other by the arms, and weaving in and out in a figure-8 pattern between the narrow pews.

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