A form of traditional Scottish dance, highland dance requires agility and quick footwork. Dancers, wear specialized shoes called ghillies, as well as kilts which can weigh as much as 15 pounds. NEWS PHOTO KENDALL KING, JUNE 22, 2022.
kking@medicinehatnews.com
A group of seven Medicine Hat dancers are preparing for their upcoming trip to Scotland, where they will compete in several highland games, and vie for a chance to take part in the World Highland Dancing Championship.
“We were supposed to go in 2020 but COVID said different,” McConnell School of Highland Dance director, Karen Pillman, told the News. “It was heartbreaking because we had everything booked and we were ready to go and (the dancers) have been preparing for four years to be able to go.”
Pillman, who founded the school in 1995, has accompanied numerous dancers to Scotland, a journey she herself made when she was a young dancer.
“It’s just such an experience to be able to go there and be a highland dancer where it all comes from,” said Pillman.
While some of the dancers originally scheduled to travel, are no longer able to go, Pillman is excited to accompany seven of her students, aged seven to 17, of all skill-levels.
“It’s a rare opportunity to dance at the games,” Pillman said. “Dancers are also going to be doing workshops with some of our judges and instructors in Scotland. They’re the ones who set the curriculum, set the syllabus for the dances we do. So, the kids are going to meet and be able to dance in front of them.”
Pillman and her students will attend highland games in Aberneth, Perth, Stirling and Crieff, with each student competing as an individual.
In preparation for the trip, dancers have been practising two to three times per week and have regularly participated in competitions across Western Canada.
Though the students’ focus remains on dance, they are excited to tour Scotland and learn more about its culture.
“I’m excited to go see castles and try the foods and see how the dancers live in Scotland and dance the steps we do, too,” said 10-year-old Elora, who describes highland dance as one of her “favourite things in the whole, entire world.”
“We get to dance and see castles,” said six-year-old Aurora.
Nine-year-old Evi is looking forward to spending time doing an activity she loves.
“I like highland dance because it’s like a sport but more fun,” she said.
