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 Scottish Country Dancing in the Washington, D.C. Area, the Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia Branches of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society

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"A boy training Scottish Pa de Basque"
Gallery One, Marucho's Folkdance Site

Top of page What to Wear

  • Shoes - Soft, flexible leather shoes with no heel allow good technique and provide traction: ghillies (Scottish dance shoes), dance pumps, jazz shoes, ballet slippers. For more support, add insoles or orthotics, or a very low heel. Add toe pads for additional cushioning.
  • For classes - Scottish country dancing feels and looks best when clothing permits comfortable freedom of movement. For women, that's usually a skirt full enough to take a big step sideways; for men, a kilt, once they are ready for that investment, or trousers, or (in class) shorts. Some women also prefer loose-fitting trousers for class.
  • For social dances - Many people dress up slightly more than they do for class.
  • For balls - Women wear ball gowns, party dresses or the traditional white dress with a tartan sash. Men wear full Highland evening attire if they have it; others wear a kilt with shirt and tie or a peasant-style shirt. Men who do not own a kilt wear dress slacks with a dressy shirt.

    Newer dancers can often borrow attire from another dancer for balls and other dance parties.

Top of page Dancing Supplies

     Local

  • The Ferris Wheel - Ghillies, tartan goods and accessories. Tom Ferris, Montgomery Village, Gaithersburg, MD. Please call 301-258-7412 or e-mail tgferris@msn.com for an appointment.
  • Repeat Performance - Dance shoes, apparel, and theatrical supplies. Nicholson Plaza, 5050-B Nicholson Lane, Rockville, MD 20852. Phone: 301-881-0800.
  • Premier Dance Gear - Ballet slippers and, jazz shoes. Irish ghillies, but no Scottish ghillies. Enchanted Forest Shopping Center, 10040 Baltimore National Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21042. Phone: 410-418-8804. Fax: 410-418-4905.
  • Stagewear Dance Fashions at Backstage Dance Studio - Ballet slippers and jazz shoes. 7185 Gateway Drive, Columbia, Maryland 21046. Phone: 410-312-0900. Fax: 410-872-9972.
  • Steins Theatrical & Dance Supply - Dance shoes and accessories. Specializes in expert shoe fittings. 3100 Clarendon Boulevard on N. Highland Street, Arlington, Virginia 22201. Phone: 703-522-2660. Fax: 703-522-5864.
  • The Scottish Merchant - Kilts, kilt rentals, kilt hose, flashes, sporrans, belts, sghian dubhs, tartan sashes, brooches, and more. No dance shoes. 215 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. Phone: 703-739-2302.
  • REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc.) - Spenco flat insoles are available in stores or on-line. There are four stores in the DC area, in Bailey's Crossroads (VA), Fairfax (VA), College Park (MD), and Rockville (MD).
  • Local events - Scottish heritage events such as Scottish Games, and Scottish dance events such as the Scottish Weekend at Ramblewood sometimes have vendors in attendance who sell ghillies, socks, flashes, tartan sashes, and other Scottish attire.

     Online

Scottish Dance Shoes

There are several manufacturers of traditional Scottish dance shoes, ghillies and pumps, all based in the U.K. Some retailers in the U.S. and Canada carry several brands of Scottish dance shoes in stock.

  • St. Andrews Shoemakers
    (formerly James Senior of St. Andrews)
    By Appointment to RSCDS, suppliers of dance shoes. St. Andrews Shoemakers offers eight styles of ghillies and six styles of dance pumps (slip-on shoe for ladies). Some styles are available in red, navy blue, royal blue, green and white, in addition to traditional black. All styles are available with noene shock protection insoles. Some styles are available with a non-slip sole. You may also order custom (bespoke) shoes in any combination of colors, styles, and soles offered. British sizes 5 1/2 and under are considered children's shoes.
  • Billy Forsyth - Scottish Dancing Shoes
    Billy Forsyth offers ghillies and Scottish Country dance pumps that are supersoft, supple, cut neat to the foot and shaped to show your footwork to perfection. Ghillies are designed with no front loop, white eyelets, and chrome soles, are available in padded and unpadded styles. Pumps are available in black and red.
  • Hullachan Pro North America
    The HPro Country Dance Ghillie features a thick pad at the ball of the foot to protect against hard floors and surfaces. Available in multiple widths, from extra narrow to extra wide. One style of country dance ghillies, in black, with black sole and black stitching. One style of pump (slip-on shoe for ladies) is also available.
  • Scottish Dance Shoe Company
    Hand crafted Scottish dance shoes. All shoes have a 'soft fit' impact insole and use a new outsole stitching process. One style of country dance ghillies, available in black leather, and black or nutmeg deerskin leather, plus wide-fitting in black or nutmeg deerskin leather. Two styles of pumps, available in red, blue, green or black leather, and black or nutmeg deerskin leather.
  • The Dancing Ghillie
    Based in San Mateo, CA. Offers several styles of ghillies and pumps from multiple manufacturers. Site has a style guide. Orders accepted by e-mail or postal mail.
  • Dancewear of Edinburgh
    Based in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. Offers several styles and brands of of country dance and highland ghillies from several manufacturers, including their own brand of highland shoes in padded and unpadded styles. Several varieties of pumps and ballet slippers are also available, in addition to other dance shoes and dancewear. Loyalty program offers a 10% discount on future orders.
  • Highland Island
    Based in Gt. Barrington, MA. Specializes in highland dance supplies, but footwear offered includes several styles and brands of ghillies suitable for SCD, including Dancewear of Edinburgh and Dougie's ghillies in both padded and unpadded styles. Consignment shoes are sometimes available.
  • Highland X Press
    Based in Las Vegas, NV. Specializes in highland dance supplies, but footwear offered includes several styles of ghillies suitable for SCD. Site offers a style and sizing guide. Also, used and consignment shoes are sometimes available.
  • Tartan Toes
    Based in Houston, TX. Offers several styles of country dance and highland ghillies from St. Andrews Shoemakers.

Scottish Supplies

For socks, flashes, tartan sashes, and other Scottish attire, please visit the links listed at these sites. Some additional sources of dance shoes are also listed.


Other Dance Shoes and Accessories

Ballet slippers, jazz shoes, and dance sneakers are available from most on-line dance supply shops. Some of these shops also carry split-sole ghillies manufactured by ballet shoe companies.

The shops listed below all carry many styles of ballet slippers and jazz shoes, the Capezio split-sole ghillie, dance tights and skirts, and Bunheads toe pads and other pointe shoe accessories for foot comfort.


Insoles

Spenco flat insoles are popular with Scottish Country Dancers. They can sometimes be found in local drug stores, athletic shoe stores, sporting goods stores, or suppliers of outdoors gear, but they are usually easier to find and less expensive if purchased on-line.

For the narrower foot, buy insoles one or two sizes smaller than what is suggested for your street shoe size, to avoid needing to trim the insoles to fit. For the wider foot, buy insoles one or two sizes larger than what is suggested for your street shoe size, and trim to fit, to ensure that the insoles are wide enough at the ball of the foot.

The shops listed below also carry many other types of insoles, arch supports, and orthotics.

Top of page Dance Instructions

 Scottish Country Dance PETRONELLA, animation by "Petronella"
Gallery Five,
Marucho's Folkdance Site
  • Dance Descriptions
    Search for for dance instructions by the name or partial name of the dance.
    (from Strathspey Server)
  • DanceData Web Interface
    Search DanceData online for dances, tunes, people, publications, recordings and albums.
    (from Strathspey Server)
  • DanceData
    Download DanceData software for your PC.
  • WWW Scottish Country Dances Index
    Index of Scottish country dances that are published on the World Wide Web.
  • MINICRIB
    MINICRIB is a simple database of brief notes covering over 2000 Scottish Country Dances which enables "cribsheets" to be quickly produced for most dance programs. Microsoft Word template available for free download.
  • Scottish Country Dance Animations
    Animated diagrams of over 200 dances and some formations (figures). Colored squares and circles move to music in the patterns of the dances. Three sample animations available for download. CD-ROM available for purchase.

Top of page Etiquette & Custom


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