Traditional female wear????

[neloon]

Actually, a highland dancer can perform in anything they like, it's only with competition that the SOBHD requires adherence to a dress code. Even then, a dancer is not disqualified but marked down.
The Aboyne Games no longer requires female dancers to wear the Aboyne. They 'prefer' that ladies wear the Aboyne style, but it's not required.

The King of Sweden is not an official SOBHD dance. Might be a SOHDA dance though, they do have a lot of the lesser known dances in their library.

I have talked privately with many of the top (and I really mean that) judges in Scotland and I can assure you that interpretation of "rules" on dress here might surprise and disturb you. Call it "marked down" if you like. I will say no more!
Alan

[Father Bill]

Welcome to the "Great Rabble," Sam!

You might want to sign in to the "Newbie" forum so that others will greet you as well. Hope it's not just a one-time membership!

Bill+

[creagdhubh]

Whereas the decision is completely up to her, here are a couple of examples of what my lovely bride wears for both formal and less formal occasions, whilst I'm wearing Highland dress:




My wife is descended from the Robertson's of Struan and wears the Robertson red 'ancient' and 'modern' colours (and sometimes Macpherson tartan) occasionally via a sash, shawl, or scarf. She's not too keen on kilted skirts that hit below the knee, but will also never wear the kilt, since she understands it is a man's garment, specifically tailored for a man's body (also, my wife is not a Highland dancer or a member of the pipe band). I think once she gets older, she will expore the kilted skirts a bit more, but for right now, she really only prefers her regular clothes with a tartan sash, shawl, or scarf...depending on the formality of dress.

Cheers,

[Domehead]

What you are describing is the required dress as laid down by the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing though I think you mean pumps rather than brogues. Aboyne Highland Games were unhappy with the kilt for female dancers and since the erly 50s require the ladies to wear this style
http://www.highlandreel.com/page2.html
This is now always used everywhere for the National Dances such as Flora MacDonald's Fancy, The Earl of Errol, The King of Sweden etc.

Alan

I would have had no idea. Thanks very much, and I believe you are quite right.
This is an image of my Grandma, aged 17 (c1925...just before she emigrated)



The articles Aunt Thelma made for Aunt Helen and Margie were not Arisaid, but constructed virtually the same. According to Helen & Margie, they never learned Highland Dance, but did begin Country Dancing. Eventually, the articles were worn fashionably only.

Thank you again. I learned something new. XMTS is so great.

Slainte,
Domehead

[lesley]

While living and working in Scotland, part of my 'uniform' at the Clan Tartan Centre was a kilt. We had one traditional length and one midi (or mini if you had the legs for it!) kilt to wear and I loved them! I felt a bit dowdy at first in the longer length as it was well below my knees, but I soon got used to the freedom of movement and the bonus of being able to unbuckle a notch in my belt if I'd eaten too much haggis!

[creagdhubh]

While living and working in Scotland, part of my 'uniform' at the Clan Tartan Centre was a kilt. We had one traditional length and one midi (or mini if you had the legs for it!) kilt to wear and I loved them! I felt a bit dowdy at first in the longer length as it was well below my knees, but I soon got used to the freedom of movement and the bonus of being able to unbuckle a notch in my belt if I'd eaten too much haggis!

***

Well said, Lesley! And welcome to the rabble.

[Dixiecat]

I have talked privately with many of the top (and I really mean that) judges in Scotland and I can assure you that interpretation of "rules" on dress here might surprise and disturb you. Call it "marked down" if you like. I will say no more!
Alan

If the dancer is competing under the SOBHD, then they must follow the Dress Code or get marked down. If your judges say otherwise, then they would not be following the current rules for judges or possibly are judging with another organization. In Scotland there are more than one. I am only familiar with the SOBHD with whom I am currently registered under the organization of ScotDance Canada.

In the SOBHD, disqualification was the rule for Dress Code violations, but this was changed several years ago. Within the last 5 I think.

Part of the misunderstandings that happen when talking to judges about issues like this is that one may not understand exactly what it is they're saying. For instance, while the rule is now to get marked down and the full markdown is only 5 points, the effect of the markdown is essentially a disqualification when you look at how closely the top level dancers can be placed at competitions. So when judges are asked about this they generally say, yes, disqualification, but the explanation is far more in depth.

[Doc Canary]

Anacranistic or traditionalist. Disrespectful or modern. Proud man in a kilt or a large man in a skirt. Judgements fall on both sides and in the middle when it comes to wearing a kilt in non kilt accustomed culture. It seems freedom comes packaged with judgment and individuality is questioned by conformity more often than not.
Wear what you like, but wear it well, respectfully, and enjoy the experence.

[creagdhubh]

Here's a link to a post I made about a kilt that I made for our daughter, who is a piper and awash in regular kilts. She wanted something different:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...t-woman-75461/

I'll post just a couple of pics here:





The kilt is built like a trad Kingussie, but it sits a couple inches below the waist. And it's longer than a trad kilt, which is the way she wanted this one. She loves it - says it's very comfortable even though it's 16 oz tartan.

Very nice, Barb!

[Father Bill]

Maybe the question is asked improperly. Perhaps it should be "Traditional female - where?"