Scottish Highland Dance
Kendra Monroe http://www.shotofscotch.org/NYC__Home.html
September 21st 2014
Kendra Monroe http://www.shotofscotch.org/NYC__Home.html
September 21st 2014
The dancers stood
in a stiff formation wearing traditional Scottish Highland peasant attire:
tartan kilts and matching knee-high tartan socks, white blouses beneath black
vests adorned with gold buttons and gold braid stitching. All teetering upon ghillies, a specialized
crisscross laced soft shoe similar to ballet slippers. A few bagpipe groans pass followed by a
slight bow, pleasant smile, and a plié.
Then as if a bagpipe full of steam releases, movement begins and excites. Legs aloft and gingerly leap across sword blades laid flat while hands and arms hover gracefully overhead.
In Scotland of the 19th and 20th century such a site would be common at The Highland Games which continue through present day as a national tribute to Scottish and Celtic culture. It's also deeply rooted in Kendra Monroe's heritage. Like the dancers balancing in constant motion, she manages to balance a full-time day job as a dental hygienist while celebrating Scottish Highland Dance in competition and with her studio, Shot of Scotch.
Then as if a bagpipe full of steam releases, movement begins and excites. Legs aloft and gingerly leap across sword blades laid flat while hands and arms hover gracefully overhead.
In Scotland of the 19th and 20th century such a site would be common at The Highland Games which continue through present day as a national tribute to Scottish and Celtic culture. It's also deeply rooted in Kendra Monroe's heritage. Like the dancers balancing in constant motion, she manages to balance a full-time day job as a dental hygienist while celebrating Scottish Highland Dance in competition and with her studio, Shot of Scotch.
In Canada, where I
was born, and in North Carolina where we later lived, there is a strong
Scottish heritage in both locations. My sister began dancing before me, and I
would watch her have so much fun in class, travel to different Highland Games
across the southeastern United States region and bring home medals and
trophies…. I WANTED IN!
For anyone interested in learning Scottish Highland Dance take note: no previous dance experience is needed. Although it does help and be prepared to put a lot of work into it. My sister and I had none and were at a slight competitive disadvantage at first. But, we made it up with tons of practice and later in life, were able to pick up other styles of dance with much more ease thanks to the control, precision, and endurance Highland technique drilled into us.
The children I teach now that have some ballet background do have an easier time picking it up. But, regardless of the order of dance genres in which you may train, it's the same fundamentals with varying technique, and they all translate well to each other.
I began Shot of Scotch: NYC's Premier Scottish Highland Dancers in early 2011 with two other highland dancers, Susan Nase and Kathleen Hall, whom I connected with through Facebook. We were looking for the same thing: celebrating the Scottish tradition of Highland dancing, building a community of other advanced dancers, and as an outlet for physical fitness. We initially focused only on the skilled premier dancers because of the time and commitment needed to perform at that level.
Shot of Scotch was the first of its kind in NYC. After several performances, we saw the need for adult beginner classes. Since then, both of my co-founders have left the city and opened a branch of their own in Vancouver. I've taken over all the teaching for adults and children. But I love it and am dedicated to the cause: get people highland dancing!
As you can imagine, after a long day at a full-time job, the thought of going to teach a high energy highland class is unfathomable, although after two minutes in I am rejuvenated. I tell my students all the time- they are the highlight of my week! Balancing a career and passion is all about perspective. Work is work. Dance is my release. Although, make no mistake, it is a second full-time job.
As a dental hygienist, I am lucky that there is some flexibility. My dental office has allowed me to take patients mid-afternoon, so I'm able to get to Brooklyn to teach my youngest students by early evening. Staying sane and organized is a combination of the dedication I have to my passion and the flexibility I've negotiated at work.
The Highland Games Festival (think men in kilts, sheep herding dog competitions, caber tossing, whiskey tastings, and mass bagpipe bands) is the centerpiece for Scottish Highland dance competition. Competitors must learn and perfect the designated dances which can take a year or two before your first. After medaling at a competition individual dancers advance through the following levels: Beginning, Novice, Advanced, and Premier. Though once a champion Premier dancer, I haven't competed in almost ten years, but my status as a Premier dancer hasn't changed. This Fall I plan to begin to train my students for competition.
And in case you were wondering- NO! It's not like Riverdance. The Irish dancers have had a wonderful boost to their community thanks to Michael Flatley. But we, Scots, are something completely different. In Scottish Highland Dance, we wear kilts and use our natural hair (not the curly synthetic hair pieces). We dance over swords to live bagpiping music with our knees pressed back, and our arms held above our body.
Another big misconception is that it's cute and easy. Imagine springing from foot to foot over a sword for two minutes while holding your arms and hands without movement above your head. You have to keep your body held upright, and your toes pointed as hard as they can. All of this while wearing a pleasant look on your face, a jacket, and 9 yards of wool around your waist (kilt). It's not cute or easy; it's difficult and it's fantastic!
For anyone interested in learning Scottish Highland Dance take note: no previous dance experience is needed. Although it does help and be prepared to put a lot of work into it. My sister and I had none and were at a slight competitive disadvantage at first. But, we made it up with tons of practice and later in life, were able to pick up other styles of dance with much more ease thanks to the control, precision, and endurance Highland technique drilled into us.
The children I teach now that have some ballet background do have an easier time picking it up. But, regardless of the order of dance genres in which you may train, it's the same fundamentals with varying technique, and they all translate well to each other.
I began Shot of Scotch: NYC's Premier Scottish Highland Dancers in early 2011 with two other highland dancers, Susan Nase and Kathleen Hall, whom I connected with through Facebook. We were looking for the same thing: celebrating the Scottish tradition of Highland dancing, building a community of other advanced dancers, and as an outlet for physical fitness. We initially focused only on the skilled premier dancers because of the time and commitment needed to perform at that level.
Shot of Scotch was the first of its kind in NYC. After several performances, we saw the need for adult beginner classes. Since then, both of my co-founders have left the city and opened a branch of their own in Vancouver. I've taken over all the teaching for adults and children. But I love it and am dedicated to the cause: get people highland dancing!
As you can imagine, after a long day at a full-time job, the thought of going to teach a high energy highland class is unfathomable, although after two minutes in I am rejuvenated. I tell my students all the time- they are the highlight of my week! Balancing a career and passion is all about perspective. Work is work. Dance is my release. Although, make no mistake, it is a second full-time job.
As a dental hygienist, I am lucky that there is some flexibility. My dental office has allowed me to take patients mid-afternoon, so I'm able to get to Brooklyn to teach my youngest students by early evening. Staying sane and organized is a combination of the dedication I have to my passion and the flexibility I've negotiated at work.
The Highland Games Festival (think men in kilts, sheep herding dog competitions, caber tossing, whiskey tastings, and mass bagpipe bands) is the centerpiece for Scottish Highland dance competition. Competitors must learn and perfect the designated dances which can take a year or two before your first. After medaling at a competition individual dancers advance through the following levels: Beginning, Novice, Advanced, and Premier. Though once a champion Premier dancer, I haven't competed in almost ten years, but my status as a Premier dancer hasn't changed. This Fall I plan to begin to train my students for competition.
And in case you were wondering- NO! It's not like Riverdance. The Irish dancers have had a wonderful boost to their community thanks to Michael Flatley. But we, Scots, are something completely different. In Scottish Highland Dance, we wear kilts and use our natural hair (not the curly synthetic hair pieces). We dance over swords to live bagpiping music with our knees pressed back, and our arms held above our body.
Another big misconception is that it's cute and easy. Imagine springing from foot to foot over a sword for two minutes while holding your arms and hands without movement above your head. You have to keep your body held upright, and your toes pointed as hard as they can. All of this while wearing a pleasant look on your face, a jacket, and 9 yards of wool around your waist (kilt). It's not cute or easy; it's difficult and it's fantastic!
This piece was choreographed by American Highland Dance
Board (FUSTA) as a way of promoting Scottish Highland Dance in the
US, this in response to the recent decline of Highland Dancers. Premier
dancers, (essentially the equivalent to black belts), located across
the US were asked to take the choreography and adjust it to fit their respective
local groups. We chose this iconic background (Brooklyn Bridge) to
not only promote Scottish Highland Dance, but let people know that our emerging
group new group exists in NYC!
Another bit of choreography we constructed during one of our
weekly rehearsal times at the 92nd St Y. The rehearsal time for
the premier dancers is designed to focus on
stamina, technique, theory, choreography but we keep the sessions informal
to allow for flexibility. We rely on individual members guide the focal point
of the lesson based on their needs or interest.
NYC10 Dance Initiative is a showcase for new groups/choreographers where premier dancers, Abi Rosenberger and myself, performed a 2 person sword dance.
photo credit: Peter Yesley |
In May 2014, The Brooklyn Ballet invited me to
perform at their new choreographers showcase, where I invited two of my
adult students, Anna Paddock and Marjorie Stewart, to dance alongside me. The dance was a
modified version of the traditional Scottish
Highland dance entitled: Seann Truibhas (translates to shedding
of the trousers). A dance expressing the pride of the kilt, and disdain
for the English trousers, performed in the kilt as well as modern
costuming.
photo credit: William Ward |