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Scotland
has long been a nation inspired by dancing. With Scottish
country dancing; the "Gay Gordons" and "Eightsome
Reels" of ceilidhs and Hogmanay parties through to the
flings and sword dances of Highland regiments, dance is firmly
embedded in Scottish cultural history. |
Recently, Scotland has developed several state of the art
dance facilities with top quality studios and training areas
- including Dance
Base in Edinburgh, The
Space in Dundee and City
Moves in Aberdeen
Scotland's national ballet company based in Glasgow, Scottish
Ballet, with the arrival of the highly respected Ashley
Page, looks set to fulfill its potential as a top class
company producing a broad repertoire of classics and new commissions
Now, taking in the wide variety of forms available, from classical
ballet and step-dance through to modern variations on hip-hop
and even belly dancing, dance plays a crucial and integral
part in the arts spectrum of Scotland today, whether as a
piece of high quality performance, as an expression of healthy
lifestyle or as part of a physical education curriculum in
schools.
Major organisations involved with Dance in Scotland.
- Scottish
Arts Council “...a key role in providing an
environment in which high quality dance can be created,
presented and enjoyed. We fund professional dance companies
as well as a number of national agencies. We support independent
choreographers to develop ideas for new work, and we fund
professional arts organisations to produce, present and
tour dance to audiences throughout Scotland.”
- Scottish
Ballet “Scottish Ballet is Scotland’s
National Dance Company and the UK’s fourth largest
company (after The Royal Ballet English National Ballet
and Birmingham Royal Ballet) employing nearly 40 professional
dancers, 30 support staff and a part-time freelance orchestra
of up to 70 musicians.”
- Scottish Official Board
of Highland Dancing (SOBHD) “SOBHD was formed in
1950 through a wish by the major Highland Dance Examining
Bodies, plus other teachers and leading dancers in the
UK at that time, to have a supervisory Board, comprising
delegates from the many different organisations involved
in Highland Dance, which could lay down quality standards
for all areas of Highland Dancing.”
- Scottish
Official Highland Dancing Association “The Scottish
Official Highland Dancing Association (SOHDA) was formed
in 1947 by a few well-known teachers and dancers…and
has since developed into a strong body of technically-minded
Dancers, Teachers, Associate Teachers, Adjudicators, Examiners,
Lecturers, etc.”
- Royal
Scottish Country Dance Society “The Society
was established in 1923 by its co-founders to protect
and promote the standards of Scottish country dancing.
Through the network of local branches, the Society offers
opportunities to learn and practice the country dances
of Scotland.”
- Step-Dance
“…an inventive and dynamic new group, committed
to the promotion, performance, and re-integration of Scottish
step-dance into the current traditional music scene in
Scotland.”
- Scottish
Traditions of Dance Trust “...We are the only
national organisation which exists to promote, research,
conserve and foster all of Scotland's dance traditions...and
the national advocate for the enjoyment of all forms of
Scottish traditional dance socially and educationally.”
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[This guide to culture has been prepared in collaboration
with the Scottish Arts Council and the Scottish Executive.] |
