Highland dance or Highland dancing is a style of competitive dancing developed in the Scottish Highlands in the 19th and 20th centuries, in the context of competitions at public events such as the Highland games. It was created from the Gaelic folk dance repertoire, but formalised with the conventions of ballet, and has been subject to influences from outside the Highlands. Highland dancing is often performed with the accompaniment of Highland bagpipe music, and dancers wear specialised shoes called ghillies or pumps. It is now seen at nearly every modern-day Highland games event.
Highland Dancers compete at the Cowal Highland Gathering 2008
Royal Military College of Canada Scottish highland dance, piper, drummers
Highland dancers at the Ceres Highland Games, 2013
Scottish national dancing at the 2005 Skagit Valley Highland Games. The dancer is wearing the Aboyne dress for females.
Highland games are events held in spring and summer in Scotland and other countries with a large Scottish diaspora, as a way of celebrating Scottish and Celtic culture, especially that of the Scottish Highlands. Certain aspects of the games are so well known as to have become emblematic of Scotland, such as the bagpipes, the kilt, and the heavy events, especially the caber toss and weight over bar. While centred on competitions in piping and drumming, dancing, and Scottish heavy athletics, the games also include entertainment and exhibits related to other aspects of Scottish and Gaelic cultures.
Opening ceremonies of 2004 Canmore Highland games
Massed bands at the Glengarry Highland Games, Maxville, Ontario, Canada, 2006
Weight over the bar event at the Carmunnock Highland Games, Scotland
Highland Dancing Competition at the Dornoch Highland Gathering, Scotland