Assemble and Leap to celebrate highland dancing's place in Scots culture
Through its unique blend of grace and power, and from foundations rooted deep in Scotland's history, highland dancing has become a truly global sport.
- By Graham Brown
- Published in the Courier : 10.11.10
- Published online : 10.11.10 @ 09.58pm
But beyond the community halls and dance studios where generations of youngsters have perfected their sword dance, highland fling or seann triubhas, the wider public's enjoyment of the dancers' technical expertise and supreme levels of fitness comes largely ringside on the summer highland games circuit.
There has never been a Riverdance in tartan but a special Fife event this weekend aims to showcase both the traditional and contemporary on what is a milestone anniversary for the sport's world governing body.
Former world champion Rachel McLagan is one of the key organisers of the Assemble and Leap spectacular in Dunfermline's Alhambra Theatre, a celebration of 60 years of the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing.
Of course, highland dancing's roots go back many centuries before the formation of the SOBHD but, since 1950, the organisation has drawn together affiliate bodies from across the world to help maintain the proud traditions of the past and carry the sport forward.
An anniversary book, Assemble and Leap, has already been produced and following its launch at the blue riband Cowal Highland Gathering — where highland dancing's world champions are crowned each August — has been sent out to every corner of the highland dancing world.
For this weekend's event Rachel, who grew up in Perthshire and now works in Edinburgh, has enlisted a cast of almost 40 champion dancers from all over Scotland, including multiple Scottish, British, European, Commonwealth and world title holders.
Along with performances by the world-class Scottish Power and The House of Edgar Shotts and Dykehead Pipe Bands and music by the likes of Wolfstone, Skerryvore, Koda and the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, the anniversary concert programme has proved a massive challenge for Rachel and close friend and fellow dancer Gemma Baillie.
Heritage
"Highland dancing is such an important part of our heritage and rarely receives the recognition and respect that the sport itself and all those involved deserve," says Rachel. "Nothing like this has ever been done before in this country and it is a great opportunity for us to show there is more to highland dancing than most people realise.
"It is so rare that we get the opportunity to do something like this. Normally dancers are competing against each other and the competitive calendar is packed, so logistically it has been a major challenge to create.
"We have been working with 12 different choreographers to put the programme together so there is quite a bit of variety and there will be something for everyone.
"Some elements are more traditional but there are also a few pieces which are quite different, contemporary dance — this is our chance to show the dynamic, exciting side of highland dancing."
At a personal level, Assemble and Leap is another memorable chapter in Rachel's highland dancing history which began when she was five and by 2002 saw her scale the heights of the sport as world junior champion.
Privilege
"It has given me so many wonderful experiences and friendships as a dancer and now that is continuing as a teacher and a judge," added Rachel (24). "To travel to countries like the US, New Zealand and Australia and see how they interpret highland dance is a privilege and that is another part of where this concert has come from."
In her foreword for the anniversary book, current SOBHD chairman Christine Lacey acknowledges the "huge debt of gratitude" to dancers and teachers in Scotland and across the world for keeping the heritage and traditions alive.
"Knowing where we have been will help us all in getting to where we are going," she said. "Sixty years ago the pioneers of the board assembled the highland dancers. It is now up to us, the future of this board, to work together, remembering the past and to keep leaping towards a better tomorrow."
- Assemble and Leap takes place at the Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline, on Saturday, November 13, at 7.30pm. Proceeds from the event are to go to Action Duchenne and the MS Society Scotland. See www.assembleandleap.co.uk and www.alhambradunfermline.com for more information.
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