Scottish Country Dance - Special Kilt?

**Pipersson** · 12th February 15, 03:50 PM

Hi Guys,

I am thinking about a Scottish Country Dance course for a while but had no opportunity.
Now I discovered there is one in my city on my only free evening and I am planing to start.
While looking for a pair of appropriate dancing shoes I was wondering if it is necessary to have a special kilt for I have often read SCD is a sudatory thing where an 8 yard heavyweight kilt might be too much during training...

Any thoughts or experiences?

Thanks and

,

Tom

**The Wizard of BC** · 12th February 15, 04:51 PM

I think you will find that most guys do not wear a kilt during practice.
You can if you want but it will not be a requirement.

Visit your local SCD group and see what the others are wearing.

But no, there is no special kilt for Scottish Country Dancing.

**ASinclair** · 12th February 15, 04:55 PM

Tom,

Welcome to SCD; it's great fun! I've been dancing for a year and half. I wear my 8 yard kilt with no discomfort. It is medium weight (13oz).

**Pipersson** · 12th February 15, 05:02 PM

Thanks Guys!
@Steve: Yeah, I know it is not required to wear the kilt...but a great chance to wear ist ;-)

@Allen: Thanks fpor welcoming me :-) I am planning to be at the 70th anniversary gathering of Clan Macpherson Association...so I'll have to practise a bit before :-)

I was thinking of a lighter weight wool or PV Kilt. The kilt shop round my corner offers a 6 yard "sport"kilt with MM PV tartans...

Tom

**Sir William** · 13th February 15, 06:27 AM

I've always worn a kilt when doing Scottish Country Dancing, for practice, a demo, or a ball. Just seems the thing to do.

Some years ago I acquired a kilt in a washable poly type fabric which I now wear it for SCD practice. The rest of the time I wear an 8 yard wool kilt.

**Tarheel** · 13th February 15, 07:57 AM

I practice the sword dance in my backyard wearing cargo shorts. I'm old and not so lithe or sure footed. I will attempt the kilt later when I feel I have mastered more of the moves. I would expect you will have instructors that will pace the class better than I do for myself. Wear your kilt, take shorts to change into if you need or want to. Your first impression through the door while kilted, will let them know you're serious.

**Panache** · 13th February 15, 09:18 PM

Welcome to the wonderful world of Scottish Country Dancing! You will never meet finer folk.

(By the by, what you wear isn't nearly as important in SCD as the dancing!)

Cheers

Jamie

**billsides** · 13th February 15, 11:31 PM

Hi,
I have just returned from a Scottish Country Dance demo in Aussie summer heat and am still wearing my Edinburgh made 13 oz SCD woolen kilt. It is in the Scottish Country Dance tartan which is substantially blue. Wearing their tartan is not essential, indeed it is rare. Any tartan is fine as are plain shorts and long socks, but kilts, even cheap ones, are far better to dance in. I recommend 13 oz wool for summer or packing for travel, but a well made 17 oz kilt should look better but I warn 8 yards of 17 oz material is a lot of weight to be carrying dancing but they swing the best. Large yardage 13 oz kilts are an ideal compromise. Lighter ones, and that means virtually all non-wool kilts, soon look scrappy and are unreliable in winds or during burls, doubt me? Just watch the light weight kilts that Highland dancers wear. Always wear something underneath if Scottish Country dancing as even 17 oz kilts do lift.

Bill

**Dixiecat** · 14th February 15, 12:26 AM

Originally Posted by billsides

Hi,
....Lighter ones, and that means virtually all non-wool kilts, soon look scrappy and are unreliable in winds or during burls, doubt me? Just watch the light weight kilts that Highland dancers wear...

Bill

Not sure what you mean by that. Highland dancers pretty much wear 13oz tartans. Highland dance is a lot more high energy on the turns and jumps so the kilts bounce and flair more than with SCD, but I don't know many dancers with less than 13. A lot of the younger dancers wear 6yd or less kilts due to the size of the dancer - not enough dancer to get more than that length in a kilt! That might be giving you the false impression that they're wearing lighter weights. Highland dancers also don't wear kilt pins or sporrans (at least the female dancers don't) so there's nothing to hold down the front of the kilt in a wind.

As for scrappy, I guess that means that the dancers are just not taking care of their kilts properly between uses.

**JohntheBiker** · 14th February 15, 06:40 AM

The answer is follow the customs of the group you are dancing with.While many don't bother with kilts, the group I danced with routinely wore kilts. A perfect excuse to wear the kilt. Most of the men also defaulted to golf shirts with their kilts, recognizing that dancing can be a workout.