Scottish Dance Theatre of Virginia

Introductory classes are available for beginning dancers ages four years-old and up. Registration commences in September. Regular Highland classes are available to more advanced dancers who wish to further develop their dance skills for performance and competition.

Dancers experienced in other fields, who wish to try another dance form will adapt quickly to Scottish dance. They may also enjoy a Scottish Contemporary dance class in the form of choreography and a chance to audition for the Dance Company and perform with the Virginia Arts Festival in the Annual Military Tattoo. 

 All classes are held at:

Rhythm of Ireland Dance Studio

3932 Virginia Beach Blvd.

Virginia Beach, VA 23452

Please contact Eleanor Unger for further information. Registration forms may be downloaded. 

Phone: (757) 481-2165 

E-mail: sdtofva@aol.com

SDTOFVA@aol.com                                                                                                                 (757) 481-2165

Scotland's National Dances are generally more balletic in nature and trace their beginnings to the Court Dances of Europe - hence Scottish Dance Theatre trains its dancers with a good ballet foundation, since both forms of dance use the similar positional placement and movements.  These dances are performed in the Arasaid costume, which is somewhat like an old Colonial  style attire.  The boys would wear kilts as all dancers wear for Highland dances.  Also included in the Nationals repertoire are character dances, e.g., the Scottish version of an Irish Jig and the Sailors Hornpipe danced in appropriate costumes.

There are times the boys wear tartan trews - possibly for an Army recruiting dance such as "Barracks Johnny" or "Heilan' Laddie."  This type of dance has been used in Scottish regiments for centuries.  The Regiments also used Country Dancing at all formal balls and informal Ceilidhs  (parties).  You are not much of a soldier if you can't sweep a lassie off her feet!  This form of dance can be as dignified as it should be in it's courtly form for a Grand Ball or danced with as much freedom as one wants for a barn dance.

THE HIGHLAND DANCES:

The Highland Fling, Sword Dance, Sean Truibhais and various Reels are Highland Dances that are first taught beginner dancers in their basic form.  These steps are built on by the advanced dancers who will compete in the same dances in Championships but with much more difficult steps - rather like ice skaters and gymnasts progressing through degrees of difficulty.  The dances roots are lost in time.  Both the Highland Fling and the Sword Dance belong to the days of the Ancient Druids, and the Reel formations follow the Celtic lines found in all the art work. The Sean Truibhais is a story dance, telling of Bonnie Prince Charlie's 1745 Scottish Rebellion and the Battle of Culloden.  Each Scottish dance becomes a little history lesson in itself, as the dancer must portray the character of the dance as well as the proper technique.