Date |
Event |
Location |
More Info |
2017 |
Apr 29 |
FVHDA - Open Championship, Pre Championship Pre Premier Com |
Fort Langley, BC |
|
Apr 29 |
Nova Scotia Closed Provincial Selection Meet |
Sydney, NS |
|
Apr 29 |
OHDA Open Competition |
Ottawa, ON |
|
Apr 29 |
Saskatoon Spring Open Competition |
Saskatoon, SK |
|
Apr 29-30 |
Western Ontario Open Championship, Western Ontario Closed Championship & Amethyst Open Premiership & Pre-Premier Competition |
ON |
|
Apr 30 |
FVHDA Open Competition |
Fort Langley, BC |
|
Apr 30 |
Saskatoon Spring Open Workshop |
Saskatoon, SK |
|
May 05-07 |
BATD Festival of Dance |
Halifax, NS |
|
May 06 |
Alberta Closed Provincial Championship |
Edmonton, AB |
|
May 06 |
Spring CIHDA Pre Premier/Premier Highland Competition |
Prince George, BC |
|
May 06 |
Manitoba Provincial Selection Meet and Closed Competition |
Winnipeg, MB |
|
May 06 |
NB Closed Selection Championship & Pre-Premier competition |
Moncton, NB |
|
May 07 |
Alberta Open Provincial Competition |
Leduc, AB |
|
May 07 |
Spting CIHDA Workshop |
Prince George, BC |
|
May 13 |
Lethbridge Highland Dance Association Annual Competition |
Lethbridge, AB |
|
May 13 |
BC Closed Championshiup |
Burnaby, BC |
|
May 13 |
ECHDA Championship |
Toronto, ON |
|
May 13 |
Quebec Provincial Selection Competition & MHDA May Indoor competition |
Pointe-Claire, QC |
|
May 14 |
ECHDA Workshop |
Scarborough, ON |
|
May 19 |
PEI Closed Canadian Championship Selection Competition |
Summerside, PE |
|
May 20 |
Comox Valley Highland Dance Competition |
Cumberland, BC |
|
May 20 |
SDPEI Fling in Spring Competition |
Summerside, PE |
|
May 20 |
Queen City Open Championship and Open Competition |
Regina, SK |
|
May 20-21 |
SDPEI Fling in Spring Workshops (Pre-premier and Premier) |
Summerside, PE |
|
May 21 |
Victoria Highland Games & Celtic Festival |
Victoria, BC |
|
May 21 |
Prairie Valley Premiership and Open Competition |
Regina, SK |
|
May 27 |
Thunder Bay Highland Dance Association Spring Competition |
ON |
|
May 27 |
Kingston Scottish Festival |
Kingston, ON |
|
May 27 |
Saskatchewan Provincial Championship & Closed Competition |
Regina, SK |
|
May 27-28 |
Port Hawkesbury Highland Dance Association Competition & Workshop |
Port Hawkesbury, NS |
|
May 28 |
CHDA May Pre-Competition Pipe Workshop |
Calgary, AB |
|
May 29 |
Lethbridge Highland Dance Association Workshop |
Lethbridge, AB |
|
Jun 03 |
CHDA June Classic |
Calgary, AB |
|
Jun 03 |
Ontario Closed Championship |
Toronto, ON |
|
Jun 10 |
Grande Prairie Highland Games |
Grande Prairie, AB |
|
Jun 10 |
Sons of Scotland Highland Dance Competition & Championship |
Delta, BC |
|
Jun 10 |
Worthen School of Highland Dance 4th Annual Competition |
Dartmouth, NS |
|
Jun 10 |
Georgetown Highland Games |
Georgetown, ON |
|
Jun 10 |
OHDA Open Competition |
Ottawa, ON |
|
Jun 10 |
QLHDA Open Competition |
Quill Lake, SK |
|
Jun 10-11 |
Mid Canada Open Comp & Championships and Lord Selkirk Premiership |
Winnipeg, MB |
|
Jun 11 |
Wothen School of Highland Dance Workshop |
Dartmouth, NS |
|
Jun 17 |
Red Deer Highland Games |
Red Deer, AB |
|
Jun 17 |
City of Vancouver Championship & Competition |
Coquitlam, BC |
|
Jun 17 |
Moncton Highland Games and Scottish Festival |
Moncton, NB |
|
Jun 17 |
Cobourg Highland Games |
Cobourg, ON |
|
Jun 18 |
Edmonton Scottish Society Highland Games |
Edmonton, AB |
|
Jun 24 |
Selkirk Highland Gathering |
East Selkirk, MB |
|
Jun 25 |
SDGHDA Open Competition |
Maxville, ON |
|
Jun 30-Jul 3 |
ScotDance Canada Championship Series 2017 |
Charlottetown, PE |
|
Jul 01 |
Embro Highland Games |
Embro, ON |
|
Jul 08 |
Kamloops Highland Games |
Kamloops, BC |
|
Jul 08 |
Kincardine Scottish Festival and Highland Games |
Kincardine, ON |
|
Jul 08 |
Kinmount Highland Games |
Kinmount, ON |
|
Jul 08-09 |
Fort Edmonton Celtic Gathering |
Edmonton, AB |
|
Jul 08-09 |
Antigonish New Scotland Open Champ/Highland Heart Open Prem/Antigonish Highland Games |
Antigonish, NS |
|
Jul 15 |
Cambridge Scottish Festival |
Cambridge, ON |
|
Jul 16 |
Festival of the Tartans New Glasgow Competition |
New Glasgow, NS |
|
Jul 29 |
Reel North Highland Dance Competition |
Prince George, BC |
|
Jul 29 |
Uxbridge Highland Games |
Uxbridge, ON |
|
Jul 29-30 |
NB Highland Games & Maritime Open Championship |
Fredericton, NB |
|
Jul 30 |
Reel North Highland Workshop |
Prince George, BC |
|
Aug 04-05 |
Glengarry Highland Games |
Maxville, ON |
|
Aug 05 |
PEI Highland Games |
Eldon, PE |
|
Aug 06 |
Montreal Highland Games |
QC |
|
Aug 12 |
Brooks Medieval Faire |
Brooks, AB |
|
Aug 12 |
Cowichan Valley Dance Competition |
Cobble Hill, BC |
|
Aug 12 |
Pugwash Gathering of the Clans Competition |
Pugwash, NS |
|
Aug 12-13 |
Fergus Scottish Festival & Highland Games |
Fergus, ON |
|
Aug 13 |
SDGHDA Open Competition |
Williamstown, ON |
|
Aug 27 |
Caitlin Stewart Memorial Highland Dancing Competition |
Arnprior, ON |
|
Sep 02 |
Calgary Highland Games |
AB |
|
Sep 02 |
Saanich Fair |
Central Saanich, BC |
|
Sep 09 |
Colchester Highland Games |
Bible Hill, NS |
|
Sep 16 |
SWOHD Fall Fair Competition |
Embro, ON |
|
Sep 23 |
Dance by the Shore Competition |
Bridgewater, NS |
|
Sep 23 |
Anna Cann Memorial Competition |
Guelph, ON |
|
Sep 23 |
Guelph District WOHDA |
Guelph, ON |
|
Sep 23-24 |
Forever Highland Competition & Workshop |
Saint John, NB |
|
Sep 30 |
SDGHDA Open Competition |
Avonmore, ON |
|
Sep 30-Oct 1 |
VHGA 56th Annual Indoor Competition & Workshops |
Victoria, BC |
|
Oct 14 |
Battlefords Highland Dancing Association Competition |
North Battleford, SK |
|
Oct 21 |
MWHDA Fall Competition |
Port McNeill, BC |
|
Oct 21 |
MHDA October Open Competition |
MB |
|
Oct 21 |
ECHDA Competition |
Toronto, ON |
|
Oct 21-22 |
Northeastern NB Highand Dance Competition & Workshop |
Miramichi, NB |
|
Oct 22 |
EHDA October Pipe Practise |
AB |
|
Oct 22 |
MWHDA Fall Workshop |
Port McNeill, BC |
|
Oct 22 |
ECHDA Workshop |
Scarborough, ON |
|
Oct 28 |
EHDA Open National Competition |
AB |
|
Oct 28 |
Fall CIDHA Pre Premier/Premier Highland Competition |
Prince George, BC |
|
Oct 28 |
Kate Shaw Memorial Competition & Workshop |
Trial, BC |
|
Oct 28 |
Halifax Highland Fall Competition |
Bedford, NS |
|
Oct 28 |
DRHDA Fall National Competition |
Ajax, ON |
|
Oct 28-29 |
Canada's Capital City Open Championship & OHDA Open Competition |
Ottawa, ON |
|
Oct 29 |
Fall CIHDA Workshop |
Prince George, BC |
|
Oct 29 |
Halifax Highland Fall Workshop |
Fall River, NS |
|
Nov 04 |
Antigonish Fall Competition |
Antigonish, NS |
|
Nov 04 |
Kingston Fall Competition |
Kingston, ON |
|
Nov 04 |
RHDA Open Competition |
Regina, SK |
|
Nov 04-05 |
Duncan Highland Dance Competition, Premiership & Workshop |
Duncan, BC |
|
Nov 05 |
Halton District WOHDA |
Burlington, ON |
|
Nov 05 |
RHDA Open Workshop |
Regina, SK |
|
Nov 11 |
HDAO Fall National Competition |
Maple, ON |
|
Nov 12 |
CHDA November Pre-Competition Pipe Workshop |
Calgary, AB |
|
Nov 12 |
BCHDA Winter Competiton #1 |
Port Coquitlam, BC |
|
Nov 18 |
CHDA Open Competition |
AB |
|
Nov 18 |
FVHDA 2016-2017 Season Competition #1 |
Fort Langley, BC |
|
Nov 18 |
MHDA November Closed Competition |
Winnipeg, MB |
|
Nov 18 |
Black Watch Memorial Dance Competition |
Oromocto, NB |
|
Nov 18 |
DRHDA National and Choreography Competition |
Ajax, ON |
|
Nov 18 |
MHDA November Indoor Competition |
Pointe-Claire, QC |
|
Nov 19 |
EHDA November Pipe Practise |
AB |
|
Nov 19 |
Energy Capital Premiership |
AB |
|
Nov 19 |
Windsor District WOHDA |
Windsor, ON |
|
Nov 25 |
Evelyn Gerrard Jones Closed Competition |
AB |
|
Nov 25 |
St Andrew.s Day Competition |
Victoria, BC |
|
Nov 25 |
Thunder Bay Highland Dance Association Fall Competition |
ON |
|
Nov 25 |
River City Open Competition and Premiership |
Saskatoon, SK |
|
Nov 25-26 |
B.A.T.D. Western Ontario Highland Dance Festival |
London, ON |
|
Nov 26 |
River City Open Workshop |
Saskatoon, SK |
|
Dec 02 |
Moncton Highland Games Christmas Celebration Competition |
Moncton, NB |
|
Dec 02 |
SDGHDA Open Competition |
Avonmore, ON |
|
Dec 02-03 |
Santa's Fling Highland Competition & Workshop |
Surrey, BC |
|
Dec 03 |
VHDA Annual Christmas Fling |
Victoria, BC |
|
The Highland Dances |
The Highland Fling
The most commonly recounted history of the ‘Fling’ is that it is a dance of celebration, performed after victory in battle.
Clansmen performed the dance on a small round targe, a circular shield of wood with the front covered in tough hide, and the back in deer or sheepskin.
The front of the shield was decorated with brass studs and plates, and often had a long spike in the centre.
Agility, nimble footwork, and strength allowed the dancer to avoid the sharp spike, which often projected five to six inches upwards.
Other experts, however, suggest that a deer leaping across the moors may have motivated the creation of the dance,
as the arms held like antlers, the body turning around, the feet dancing from side to side, are all reminiscent of a stag at play.
A similar interpretation suggests the dance celebrates a successful stag hunt.
|
The Sword Dance (Ghillie Calum)
It is probable that the tune, Ghillie Calum, dates back to the days of Malcolm Canmore (Shakespeare's MacBeth).
The earliest references to the *dance* are from the 19th century, and it is unlikely that it is very much older.
One story is that this was a dance of victory, as the King danced over his bloody claymore (the two-handed broadsword of Scotland) and the even bloodier head of his enemy.
Some say that no severed head was used and that the King danced over his own sword crossed over the sword of his enemy.
Another story is that the Sword Dance was danced prior to a battle. To kick the swords was considered a bad omen for the impending battle, and the soldier would expect to be wounded.
If many of the soldiers kicked their swords the chieftain of the clan would expect to lose the battle.
|
The Seann Triubhas
Pronounced "shawn trews", this Gaelic phrase 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 Proscription Repeal which restored to the Scots the right to wear their kilts and play the bagpipes once more.
The movements of this dance clearly depict the legs defiantly shaking and shedding the hated trousers and returning to the freedom of the kilt.
|
Strathspey and Reels
There are several “group” dances which are performed by four dancers.
The Strathspey is never danced on its own in competition and must be followed by a Reel.
These dances illustrate the "set" and "travel" steps which are common in Scottish social dancing.
The Reel of Tulloch or Hullachan (performed to the tune of the same name) refers to a dance performed outside a cottage.
This Reel is thought to have originated in the Churchyard, where on a cold winter's Sunday a Minister was late for his service--
parishioners tried to keep warm by clapping their hands and stamping their feet.
|
The National Dances
Scottish National dances are of a more modern origin and have been collected from old dance masters.
In North America, National dances were not danced in competition until the 1960s.
The attire worn by female dancers is called the Aboyne dress, named after the Aboyne Highland Games of Scotland where up to this day, the wearing of the kilt is strictly forbidden to women.
The National dances are very similar to Highland dances, but the style is more flowing and balletic.
They require a lot of skill to execute correctly, and spectators will note that often the rhythms are more complicated than in conventional Highland dancing.
|
Flora McDonald's Fancy
This is said to be the last dance Flora McDonald danced for Bonnie Prince Charlie before he fled overseas, but is more likely to be a dance named in her honour.
Flora McDonald helped the prince escape from North Uist to Skye disguised as her maid.
She emigrated to America but returned home to Skye later in life.
|
Scottish Lilt
The original tunes for the Lilt are 'Drops of Brandy' and 'Brose and Butter”. The Scottish Lilt is claimed by both the Hebrides and Perthshire.
|
Barracks
The Barracks Johnny is said to be an army recruitment dance.
It is danced to the tune "Wilt Thou Go to the Barracks, Johnny?"
and performed outside the Barracks to entice new recruits to sign up for the army.
|
Village Maid
The Village Maid is a flirtatious dance allegedly first performed on a table by a young serving woman in a pub.
|
List compiled from a list supplied by ScotDance Canada
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