What are the Highland dances?
There are 4 Highland dances, all of which were originally for men only. Today, they are at the basis of all major championships. These dances are the Fling, Sword, Seann Truibhas, and Reels. Each dance is made up of a series of set steps, and dancers can choose to compete with whichever steps they prefer, provided that they’re not competing at a championship (where steps are pre-determined at the start of the competitive season). The Highland Fling is generally the first dance that a student learns. Folklore has it that the Fling was performed after battle as a victory dance on top of a shield, which is why the dance is performed on the spot (unless youre like me, and need about an acre to dance it because you cant keep still). Another rumour says that a boy had been wandering the Scottish Highlands when he saw a deer leaping around the fields. He was so enthralled by its beauty that he started mimicking its movements. As such, the arms depict the antlers of a deer.
