"New" Clan MacTavish Dress Tartan

[David Thorpe]

Why is it that I am not convinced? But we shall see.

I believe that is a question which only you can answer, Jock. Best of luck with that.

There are many instances of Scots in the colonies and elsewhere dispersed doing things slightly differently than they are done in the Highlands. This very forum contains a plethora of discussions of examples. Due to many factors such as climatic and general cultural differences, this stands to reason. I am not convinced that these differences always constitute a "muddle", nor any particular problem.

I am no expert, to be sure, but I believe that here in the US, in at least some competitions, dancers are required to wear "dress" tartans, at least for any kind of serious consideration. I have no idea whether this rule applies at competitions in Scotland. The girls of our small clan have had to heretofore wear the "dress" tartan of another clan in order to compete. Our Chief has remedied that situation, with my gratitude.

With sincere respect for your expertise, experience, willingness to share them and tolerance for occasional disagreement, I will now hunt down my roll of duct tape and attempt to close this big can of worms.

[Dixiecat]

I believe that is a question which only you can answer, Jock. Best of luck with that.

There are many instances of Scots in the colonies and elsewhere dispersed doing things slightly differently than they are done in the Highlands. This very forum contains a plethora of discussions of examples. Due to many factors such as climatic and general cultural differences, this stands to reason. I am not convinced that these differences always constitute a "muddle", nor any particular problem.

I am no expert, to be sure, but I believe that here in the US, in at least some competitions, dancers are required to wear "dress" tartans, at least for any kind of serious consideration. I have no idea whether this rule applies at competitions in Scotland. The girls of our small clan have had to heretofore wear the "dress" tartan of another clan in order to compete. Our Chief has remedied that situation, with my gratitude.

As for highland dancing, here in the 'colonies' we don't do anything different than they do in Scotland and your assumption that dancers in the US are required to wear dress tartans is completely wrong. All dancers who compete under the auspices of the SOBHD (Scottish Official Board of Highland Dance) follow their dress code which states that the dancer (both male and female) should wear ANY clan, family or district tartan. The SOBHD is the only recognized highland dance organization for any competing dancer in North America and most dancers in Scotland and the rest of the dancers in Scotland who dance under SOHDA follow the same dress code.

Dancers are only required to wear a tartan kilt. White-based tartans have become the norm, but only in the last 20years.

[David Thorpe]

Thank you for that information. I (wrongly) assumed that white-based tartans were required, since the overwhelming majority of girls wear them. If not a rule per se, is this not a de facto standard nonetheless? I suppose a beauty pageant contestant could wear black lipstick, but would it not likely effectively bar her from consideration for a win?

[Dixiecat]

Thank you for that information. I (wrongly) assumed that white-based tartans were required, since the overwhelming majority of girls wear them. If not a rule per se, is this not a de facto standard nonetheless? I suppose a beauty pageant contestant could wear black lipstick, but would it not likely effectively bar her from consideration for a win?

No, it's not even a 'de facto' standard. It's any clan, district or family tartan. No judge would EVER consider marking down or disqualifying any dancer with a non-white based tartan. That would go against the very tradition and heart of highland dance.

[Mark Stephenson]

No, it's not even a 'de facto' standard. It's any clan, district or family tartan. No judge would EVER consider marking down or disqualifying any dancer with a non-white based tartan. That would go against the very tradition and heart of highland dance.

Last night at our local St. Andrew's Ball, I asked a well-known Highland Dance judge about what is required. She confirmed that while a "dress tartan" is NOT required, there is a rather strong convention regarding the wear of a "dress tartan". Persons who choose not to wear a "dress tartan" would definitely stand out - which would not necessarily be a good thing or a bad thing.

[Dixiecat]

Last night at our local St. Andrew's Ball, I asked a well-known Highland Dance judge about what is required. She confirmed that while a "dress tartan" is NOT required, there is a rather strong convention regarding the wear of a "dress tartan". Persons who choose not to wear a "dress tartan" would definitely stand out - which would not necessarily be a good thing or a bad thing.

There is a strong convention for wearing dress tartans for highland dance, but I can't stress it highly enough that NOT wearing a dress tartan is not a bar to winning or placing at competitions.

You don't need the judge to confirm it. The dress code guidelines are available for anyone to read:
http://www.sobhd.net/downloads/files...2002.08.12.pdf

[David Thorpe]

When was the last time you saw a dancer wearing a non-white-based tartan win a competition? And how often?