ABSTRACT
The formation of the regulatory societies during the first decades of the twentieth century and the standardisation of dance and dance teaching influenced and shaped the development of twentieth-century Scottish dancing. By the late twentieth century, an increased emphasis on technical excellence in competitive Highland dancing and an increasing sense of disassociation between dancing and dance piping encouraged a reaction from some dancers and musicians in Scotland. This chapter considers these reactions which were demonstrated through the introduction of Cape Breton percussive step dance as a reaction to Highland dancing and through the growth in popularity of caller-led ceilidh dancing as a reaction to Scottish country dancing. Neither step dance nor ceilidh dance is regulated in the way that Highland dancing nor standardised as Scottish country dancing is. Step dance and ceilidh dance allow participants the freedom to improvise, as they encourage local stylistic variations and foster a relationship between music and dance. Finally, the chapter places Scottish traditional dance in an international context and focuses on how Highland dancing compares with other styles of competitive dance.
