Highland Dancing

Front 1

Boat rocking

Back 1

An action where the folded arms dip in motion with the roll of the body indicating the boat rolling in and over the waves as the body changes in diagonal direction

Front 2

Bucket haul to the side

Back 2

An action raising both arms outward and upward above the head, lowering in front of the body to pick up bucket before hauling to approximately chest level and carried to same side as working foot, as the body made a half or quarter turn before releasing the bucket.

Front 3

Climbing the rigging-Grasping rungs

Back 3

An action where one hand is raised just above head height, grasps the rung of the rope ladder and lowers in front of chest with slight body roll. Other hand is clenched at side of chest.

Front 4

Climbing the rigging-Grasping the sides

Back 4

An action where one arm is extended well above head height, with elbow slightly relaxed. The hand grasps side of the side of the rope ladder and lowers to the side of the chest, elbow sideways, with body roll. Other hand is clenched in front of chest.

Front 5

Coiling

Back 5

An arm action where the rope slides through the guiding hand and is laid down in rings on the deck using a wide outward circular movement in front of the body. Combined only with crab walk in a circle. Each coiling action takes two counts. Hand commences closed and finishes open.

Front 6

Coiling spirals

Back 6

An arm action in an outward circular direction to make spirals of rope. The circles narrow and quicken as the rope piles up. Coiling hand is lightly clenched and faces downwards with knuckles flat and wrist level. Elbow tucked in beside body. Other hand in Hand on side or Hand on Back. Combine only with Batterie and ends with a slip.

Front 7

Cutlass drill; carry

Back 7

preparation position-upper arm held to side at shoulder level with forearm at a right angle to upper arm, hand clenched as if holding cutlass. Other Hand on back

Front 8

Cutlass drill; Parry

Back 8

As the body leans forward the arm rotates forward with slight twist of wrist and forearm so back of wrist faces forward and straightens to the extended sideways position.

Front 9

Cutlass drill; Straighten

Back 9

As the body straightens the arm rotates back in the extended sideways position with thumbs on top.

Front 10

Cutlass drill;Across Body

Back 10

As the body leans away the arm is drawn strongly downward across front of body and upward until hand is holding cutlass is approximately at shoulder level.

Front 11

Cutlass drill; slash

Back 11

the arm moves strongly into the extended sideways position at a slightly downward angle following the line of the elbow and the forearm. The body leans in the same sideways alignment. In step form, slash coincides with lunge.

Front 12

Cutlass withdraw and replace
R side first two counts

Back 12

count 1; Facing front, Left hand steadies sheath on Left hip as R arm circles upwards and over to grasp cutlass in the sheath
Count 2; cutlass withdraw to carry position facing left, other hand on back.

Front 13

Cutlass withdraw and replace
First break

Back 13

c 133-14 Facing front, L hand steadies sheath, r arm replaces cutlass

Front 14

Cutlass withdraw and replace
L side first two counts

Back 14

c 1; cutlass changed to L hand
c 2; cutlass taken to carry position facing right

Front 15

Cutlass withdraw and replace
Second break

Back 15

c 13; facing front, cutlass changed to r hand
c 14; L hand steadies sheath
c 15; replace cutlass in sheath using same upward and over movement as first 2 counts right side
c 16 hold

Front 16

Hauling

Back 16

A continuous inward oval action commencing with the extended hand open, then timing varies according the the construction of the step. The hand moving outward comes from the lower position. Hands do not touch and are held away from jumper.

Front 17

Rowing-Arms

Back 17

An action where both hands grip the oar in front of the body and dip on an angle to the same side as the working foot, then circle back to the front central position. The oar is then dipped and pushed well forward and then the hands and arms are drawn back towards chest as body leans well back

Front 18

Salute

Back 18

Preceded by and followed by arms at sides, a smart action with right arm showing recognition and respect used as an introduction and finish to the dance. In salute position there is a horizontal line from shoulder to elbow, while the forearm slopes from finger tips to the elbow. The fingers rest above the center of the right eyebrow with wrist straight. Four time counts.
count 1 R arm smartly takes salute position
2-3 hold
4 arms return smartly to arms at sides
note; on senior introduction, senior final break and farewell circle the timing of the salute varies.