Scottish Cane Dancing

[Riverkilt]

Youngsters have the Sword Dance and there are all the Scottish Country Dances.

But haven't seen any pics of the ancient tradition of olde geezers doing the Scottish Cane Dance.

You wouldn't have either save some kilted paparazzi snuck up on me when I was practicing in private.



The Traditional Scottish Cane Dance is traditionally done by olde geezers a courting an available lass to show the lovely lady he's still "got it." But being olde and frail the cane is used for support - to prevent injury to the olde geezer as he gets friskier and friskier with his dance steps.

An advanced Scottish Cane Dancer will dance over to a low forked limb of a tree, slip his cane across the forked branch and do a few pullups from the cane if he can.

If an olde gent gets a full head of steam going he may even toss the cane aside and jig without it...or toss it down like half a sword dance and dance around the cane on the ground.

Hopefully, he'll save a wee bit of energy for the lady if she's impressed.

[Bugbear]

I have no idea what you're talking about , Ron.

Why would a lady be impressed by any of this?

Or is this just another one of those things I don't quite understand about the whole subject...?

[londonpiper]

Nice one Ron. I can see how the cane hampers the use of the extended arm!

[cessna152towser]

Great idea Ron.

So that's what the cromach is used for

[BEEDEE]

Danced, of course, to a slow reel, or is it real slow?

Brian

[thescot]

Ron, it appears that subtlety and nuance are not always appreciated . . . or understood. Especially by the young.

I keep a cane/walking stick/cromnach close at hand most of the time so that I, too, can join in the fun should a dance break out. I even have one of those fold up canes for travel.

I find that it is all about style and grace. If one practices a bit--as you obviously do--in private and works one's personal technique to the point of finess, then one can certainly draw the ladies' eyes even if one is not the best dancer on the floor. It's all in the moves and the handling of the cane.

It appears that you are emulating your own variation of the "Sutherland spin," sometimes called the "Highland turn" by the unknowing. Am I correct?

[dfmacliam]

One must be careful of their ethusiasm on the Cane Dance, for their efforts might be done in vain... dancing and twirling and impressing the young lady, only to find out you haven't the energy left to show her the select dance you have taken a lifetime to master... and being refered to by the older ladies of the area as the man with all show and no go!....lol

[Riverkilt]

A slow jig is best....a very slow jig.

And yes, energy management is a key factor.

If one chooses to use a cromnach you MUST be sure not to be tempted to try any moves you may have seen done by ladies who make their living pole dancing. The cromnack is not secured firmly as a dance pole is.

And, if while doing the traditional Scottish Cane Dance an aging gent should toss his cromnach to the ground to dance about it as if it were a sword, extra care should be taken to avoid the curly part that could easily trip up a gent and spoil the effect he seeks as he tumbles to the ground with his kilt flying.

'tis a risky business - which also may impress the lass....

[toadinakilt]

Nothing ventured, nothing gained, Riverkilt. I say throw the cane down, dance around it! If you fail, you fail with style. If you are successful, well then, if nothing else I'll buy you a beer.

As a matter of fact, here, have a beer.

[vmac3205]

I hate to burst your collective geezer bubbles, but us olde geezerettes prefer genltemen who have saved their energy to take us in hand, and escort us to a nice tea room for conversation, a cuppa, and a lovely "nap" after. You jigging and twirling napes are sneered at.