Difference between a "dancing" kilt and any other, and liners?

[St. Amish]

A "dancer's (not dancing!) kilt" is simply a traditional kilt made for a dancer.

-The construction is exactly the same, and the kilt opens on the same side as any trad kilt would.

-It's hard to leap around the swords with a big heavy kilt, so the tartan weight is typically less than for a man's trad kilt. In my opinion, the best kilts for dancers are made in 11-12 oz tartan (such as Dalgliesh weaves). I don't like 10 oz tartan for a kilt for a dancer - it's too flippy and wrinkles too easily, although some mills sell 10 oz tartan specifically for dancing (personally, I think it's too light). But 8 oz would be _too_ light in anyone's book.

-How much tartan is in a kilt for a dancer depends on the size of the dancer. Because most girls are smaller than most men, the kilt typically has less tartan. But even for a small girl, there will be at least 5 yards, and maybe 6, depending on the size of the sett (less than 5 yards doesn't give enough pleats and doesn't have the needed swing). For a larger dancer, I've used 7 yards or more. Because light weight tartan typically has smaller setts than heavier weight tartan, you can get away with a little less tartan and still have a nice number of pleats.

-Dancers typically wear dress (or white-based) tartans, because they show up better on stage. Dancers typically compete outdoors, and a dark kilt doesn't stand out on stage with a background of woods and fields. Dalgliesh specializes in weaving dress tartans for Highland dance - they carry over 80 dress tartans in 11-12 oz range.

-Kilts for dancers are not artificially weighted in any way, but they virtually all have hems that give them a bit of weight at the bottom. The hem is necessary because lightweight tartan is woven without a kilting selvedge.

-Because a dancer does not wear a kilt pin, the second apron edge buckle is necessary to control the fringe edge of the kilt.

-The kilt has a lining (not a liner) across the top of the inside of the kilt to cover the canvas interfacing. Steve explained it nicely.

-If you watch a Highland dance competition, the only concession to modesty is that the dancers are required to wear dark colored dance underwear so that the viewer doesn't get a flash of white panties when the kilt swings....

What does a dancer's kilt cost to make? My fiance has an aversion to "billie" kilts because of the length, and has been snooping around the dancer's area at Games to see if she can find one her size in a tartan that she will wear. Now I'm wondering if I can afford to have one made for her.