Difference between a "dancing" kilt and any other, and liners?

[Barb T]

A "dancer's (not dancing!) kilt" is simply a traditional kilt made for a dancer.

-The construction is exactly the same, and the kilt opens on the same side as any trad kilt would.

-It's hard to leap around the swords with a big heavy kilt, so the tartan weight is typically less than for a man's trad kilt. In my opinion, the best kilts for dancers are made in 11-12 oz tartan (such as Dalgliesh weaves). I don't like 10 oz tartan for a kilt for a dancer - it's too flippy and wrinkles too easily, although some mills sell 10 oz tartan specifically for dancing (personally, I think it's too light). But 8 oz would be _too_ light in anyone's book.

-How much tartan is in a kilt for a dancer depends on the size of the dancer. Because most girls are smaller than most men, the kilt typically has less tartan. But even for a small girl, there will be at least 5 yards, and maybe 6, depending on the size of the sett (less than 5 yards doesn't give enough pleats and doesn't have the needed swing). For a larger dancer, I've used 7 yards or more. Because light weight tartan typically has smaller setts than heavier weight tartan, you can get away with a little less tartan and still have a nice number of pleats.

-Dancers typically wear dress (or white-based) tartans, because they show up better on stage. Dancers typically compete outdoors, and a dark kilt doesn't stand out on stage with a background of woods and fields. Dalgliesh specializes in weaving dress tartans for Highland dance - they carry over 80 dress tartans in 11-12 oz range.

-Kilts for dancers are not artificially weighted in any way, but they virtually all have hems that give them a bit of weight at the bottom. The hem is necessary because lightweight tartan is woven without a kilting selvedge.

-Because a dancer does not wear a kilt pin, the second apron edge buckle is necessary to control the fringe edge of the kilt.

-The kilt has a lining (not a liner) across the top of the inside of the kilt to cover the canvas interfacing. Steve explained it nicely.

-If you watch a Highland dance competition, the only concession to modesty is that the dancers are required to wear dark colored dance underwear so that the viewer doesn't get a flash of white panties when the kilt swings....