'Highland dance or Highland dancing is a style of competitive solo dancing developed in the Scottish Highlands in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in the context of competitions at public events such as the Highland games, where it is often performed to the accompaniment of Highland bagpipe music.'
Some of the best hours of my life have been sent Scottish Dancing and long may it continue.
From dressing up and having a good supper and then sweating the night away; you enter the world of Scottish Dancing and by the grand young age of 45, I imagine you know most of the world.
And how the world is small.
When my parents introduced me to this incredible world, I hated it. They knew everyone, the other children didn't want to be there anymore than I did and to be honest, holding hands with a boy was the worst thing that could happen. Or even talking to boys - when would that ever be fun?
Annoyingly, as proving my parents right, as time has gone on, I have fallen more and more in love with reeling. The culture, the people, the music, the ability to do whatever you feel, the structure to it and most of all the tours of the country!!
Holidays to Skye to dance till 6am and to Oban are just some of the summer benefits of the whole experience!
Since being at the Royal Ag University (né College), I have started up the Caledonian Society with a friend, Theo. It runs every Thursday evening and becoming more and more popular.
Maybe it was something to do with the 'fantastic', 'best ball of the year', we had last year. 80 people came and we made a seriously impressive profit. Only increasing my passion for events and party management.
The title of this post is in reference to the dance names: Hamilton House, Dashing White Sargent, Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Duke of Perth, Reel of the 51st Division (Traditional and Aberdonion), Eightsome, Foursome (cheeky!), Inverness Country Dance and Mairi's Wedding, to mention the popular ones.
If you ever get the chance to try it - my one request is that you give it a go. You may hate it, you may love it, but if you don't try it you won't know. And my gosh, its a good laugh!
The aspect of it that I love is that everyone ends up coming out of their shell and being themselves as it becomes the only way you can survive. Each person is their true self and the enthusiasm plus adrenaline increases their personalities; it is fantastic.
My take home message is... Do it. Go Scottish Reeling. It is one of my favourite things to do and one of the best ways to socialise!
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