Wearing your kilt to other cultural events

[Archangel]

I think you need to pick and choose. I wore mine to my Canadian citizenship, what the hey, but I didn't wear sandals, did everything proper and nobody brought a camera.

I had another occasion last month to participate in a First Nation Day of Protest. I did not wear the kilt since I thought it would take away from their event. I didn't get a chance to discuss it with the organizers. As it turns out, I was invited to the front and my picture was in the paper. So I'm satisfied that I did the right thing. The Feather Bearer should be the focus, not the guy in the kilt behind him.

[Riverkilt]

I've been kilted at the Gathering of Nations for two years now - a huge Pow-Wow in Albuquerque and have seen other kilted gents there.

I've been kilted to local Navajo Pow-Wows.

I've been kilted to Hopi dances.

Only problem is the Hopi's call be Mike since a high school teacher at Hopi High School wears kilts from time to time.

Ron

[emolas]

If thinking that attending a culturally themed event in a different culture's traditional clothing is disrespect then you have to realize that almost everyone there is dressed in the wrong culture's clothing because they are dressed in modern American (or whatever country you are in) clothing. Unless everyone is specifically asked to dress in national clothing for the event then anything you wear that is in keeping with the formality of the occasion should suffice. I attended an asian festival last month kilted and met someone wearing a utilikilt at the event.

[Martin S]

I had been thinking recently of this very question -- but in a different way; nothing to do with "respect" for other people's cultures etc.
I'd heard there was some country & western dancing club here and thought of going along for some exercise.
What would they think of the kilt?
Since I would be a beginner, yet already know how to dance, would they think I was trying to show off?
Since I run a Scottish dancing club, would they think I was there only to try and kidnap their members?
I have heard that some American dancers are very strict about costume (long sleeves & jeans for men, wide frilly skirts for the girls...), so would I be simply breaking the rules by turning up in my everyday clothes?

Martin