LIsted below are all the “named” step dances we have records for. Many emanate from mainland Scotland and the Western Isles, but some, such as the Sailors’ Hornpipe are more ubiquitous.
In some cases all we have is the bare name and perhaps the names of associated performers, but for many we have virtually complete histories and notations. Where dances were particularly popular theit may have been collected in more than one version.
Aberdonian Lassie
A solo step dance from the island of Barra in the Hebrides. Notations available. Performed to the jig Merrily Danced the Quaker’s Wife.
Blue Bonnets
One of the particularly popular dance tunes in Scotland, several choreographies collected from oral tradition exist, emanating from different dancing masters. The majority of versions can be traced back to Euan MacLachlan of South Uist although another emanated from the Forfar dancing master, James Neill. Notations available.
Callum Brougach
Only known from the repertoire of Jame Neill of Forfar not a single literary or reference from oral tradition is know, making it almost unique among step dances. The dance is performed to the tune of the same name.
First of August
This Hebridean step dance was collected by Tom Flett froma number of informants, in particular John MacLeod of Glasgow. The tune used is The White Cockade. A hard shoe treepling dance, it became popular within the folk revival during the 1970s to about 2000.
Flowers of Edinburgh
Although known from the Hebrides the only notation for this hard shoe step dance was is found in the Hill Manuscript from Aberdeenshire, dating from 1841.
Highland Laddie
This is probably the Hebridean step dance about which we have the most information. Versions were collected from a number of Hebridean dancers a different version was taught by Lames Neill of Forfar. Notations available.
Liverpool Hornpipe
Two dances are known performed to this well-known tunes. One was taught in Fife and the other in Wigton. It is known that both were considered to be clog dances and it seems that they were performed in either clogs or hard shoes.
Miss Forbes
A Hebridean dance collected by Tom Flett from Cissie and Annie MacDonald. The tune used is the well-known Miss Forbes’ Farewell to Banff.
Miss Gayton's Hornpipe
A dance collected from the Wallace family of dancing masters of Kilmarnock. Miss Gayton was a celebrated performer on the Georgian stage however it seems unliklely that the dance was written for her. It is more likely that the tne of the same name was written in her honour and the dance composed to it at a later stage.
Over the Water to Charlie
A hebridean step dance which can be traced back to the danicng of Euan MacLachlan. The dance was obtained bythe Fletts in two main versions and another was published by D.G. MacLennan in the 1950s. Performed to the tune of the same name or The Lads wi’the Kilt.
Sailors' Hornpipe
Probably originating on the London stage in the early 1700s this dance has become our most widely performed step dance. As well as forming part ofthe Highland dancer’s repertoire it is known from many other parts of the country forming for example part of the May Day festivities in Cheshire and of course associated bith naval training.
Scotch Jig
A short step dance collected by the Fletts from William Adamson of Kingskettle, Fife and danced to the tune of The Laird o’Cockpen. A fairly simple dance it was perhaps taught to beginners. .
Scotch Measure
Collected from Farquhar MacNeil, Annie MacDonals and Donald Walker the tune used for this Hebridean step dance was Dornoch Links.
Tullochgorum
A hebridean step dance collected from a number of informants by the Fletts, it is danced to the tune of the same name. Originally of ten steps only nine could be recovered.