Competitions

New Scotland has entered teams into three dance competitions recently. These are two Scottish country dance festivals - the 'Newcastle Festival' in February and the smaller 'Edinburgh Festival' in May; and the Scottish Traditions of Dance trust Open Choreography 'Dance is Alive' competition in March. These festivals are an excellent opportunity to see Scottish dance technique and display choreography at its best and to improve your own dancing. We have even won prizes several times!

Scottish Country Dance Competitions

Both the Scottish Country Dance competitions contain junior, mixed and ladies classes (New Scotland usually enters a mixed, or a mixed and a ladies team) and two categories of competition - 'technique' and 'display'.

In the technique sections each team performs one Strathspey and one Reel or Jig of their own choice in a four couple set. There is a pause between the two dances (while the judges comments on the first dance are written down!) and each dance is danced four times through.

Joint New Scotland-Dunedin Ladies Team competing

The judge will mark the team on their technique - footwork, use of hands, phrasing, covering, etc. (it's good to smile too!). The teams placed third to first are announced at the end of that competition 'class' and each team receives a sheet with its marks and comments.

In the display section, each team combines at least three dances, at least one of which is a Strathspey, to create a medley. This can involve a spoken introduction, any number of couples, rotations and mutations of the set, entrances and exists, novelty gimmicks (such as costume changes) and any form of music, as long as it is all completed in the time limit (usually about 8.5 minutes).

New Scotland Mixed Team competing

The display section of the competition is usually the most fun! The judge will mark the teams on overall impression and entertainment value. The judge gives verbal comments (usually compliments!) on all the teams, but only a first place is awarded.

If you are interested in competing for New Scotland at either of these festivals you should attend Demonstration class - new team members are always appreciated. If you just want to come along, watch the dancing and support the team you'll always be welcome - Newcastle Festival even has an excellent dance for everyone in the evening, which makes the journey down to Newcastle well worth while.

The winning team! Joint New Scotland-Dunedin team Newcastle Festival Display Competition 2003

Scottish Traditions of Dance Trust Competition

Each year, starting in 2004, the Scottish Traditions of Dance Trust has held 'Dance is Alive!' - a traditional dance festival including workshops, an evening ceilidh, highland dance competitions, and a 'Freestyle Choreography' section. In 2005, New Scotland entered the Freestyle Choreography section for the first time. The requirement for this section is to put together a 4 minute display, to recorded or live music, which includes traditional Scottish dance steps. The performances are judged by a panel of three judges who decide on a winner (no second or third etc prizes are given). The majority of competitiors are young dancers with a Highland dance background, many of whom are also competing in the Highland dance sections of the competition; however, New Scotland's skills of Scottish country dancing and Scottish step dancing, as well as in Highland dancing, are appropriate for the Freestyle Choreogrpahy competition.

New Scotland competing at 'Dance is Alive in 2005'

New Scotland's winning team - very happy!