The National Dances

 

 

The Flora MacDonald`s Fancy

Flora MacDonald was born on the island of Vist Scotland. She lost her parents when she was just an infant. When she was six years old, she was taken to the mansion of the clan Ranald to be educated. She showed special musical talent. In 1746, while visiting Benbecula, Flora met Bonnie Prince Charlie. Legend has it that Flora is the subject of the flirting dance called the Flora MacDonalds Fancy. The lady in the dance is trying very hard to impress her lover. Could that have been Bonnie Prince Charlie? Flora was, after all, instrumental in helping the Prince escape from Scotland following the battle of Cullodon.

*The history of the Flora MacDonald was taken from: http://www.cadvision.com/johndon/dances.htm - The%20Flora%20MacDonalds%20Fancy

 

 

 

The Scottish Lilt, Blue Bonnets, Earl of Errol and Village Maid

 

The ladies generally danced the above dances and each was made for its own reason. There isnt very much history on these dances. But the ladies do wear a dress known as an aboyne named after the Aboyne games in Scotland where it is still forbidden for a woman to wear a kilt.

 

 

 

Wilt Thou Go To Barracks Johnny? And The Highland Laddie

 

These dances are done in the kilt, as they were generally male dances. Wilt Thou Go To Barracks Johnny? or more commonly known as the barracks, was a dance made to show a soldiers vigorous training. The Highland Laddie may have been done by a lad trying to show off to a pretty lassie.

 

 

 

The Irish Jig

 

This dance is the only dance done without ghillies or slippers. It instead is done wearing jig shoes. Most female dancers wear a red or green dress with a white apron and red or green jig shoes. The jig shoes have a one-inch heel on them with a metal tap. The shoes also have a thin piece of wood at the ball of the foot. These shoes are used for making noise and beats with the feet. The history of this dance was that an Irish washerwoman was out hanging up her clean laundry when a bunch of boys ran through it and got it dirty again. She gets mad and chases them away with shaking fists and stomping feet.

 

 

 

The Sailors Hornpipe

 

The Sailors Hornpipe is done in a blue or white sailors outfit. The dance requires strength and stamina as the dancer mimics the many movements done aboard a ship (climbing the ropes, standing watch, swabbing the deck, etc.)