Resources for Highland Dancers
This post is for all the Highland dancers & dance parents out there who might be new to Highland, or are just looking for a list of resources to help further their/their child’s dancing!
Because Highland dance is not as mainstream as ballet or other dance forms, it can be hard to find the help you need, whether you are looking for where to find the best ghillies, how to pin a plaid, or what even is a plaid?!
Below are some resources that I have used and have found useful, over my 14+ years of dancing.
Outfits & Shoes
First up is the outfits! In Highland dance, there are several different outfits that we wear, depending on what dance you are doing, or whether you are male or female.
A great Facebook page to join. On there, you will find brand new & second-hand outfits at great prices.
Tide & Tartan - Based on the South Coast on NSW, Australia
Tide & Tartan sells custom aboyne, jig & hornpipe outfits. They also sew trousers for boys, blouses, petticoats, bibs & more.
Wilshire Highland Wear - Based in the South West of Victoria, Australia
Wiltshire Highland Wear sells all kilt and aboyne outfits, as well as hornpipe, jig, undergarments, accessories & more.
Stag Stitches - Based in NZ
Stag Stiches, based in NZ, makes custom, hand-stitched Highland kilts and other outfits.
Celtic Dance Supplies - Based in QLD, Australia
Celtic Dance Supplies is the best place to buy ghillies (dance shoes) from in Australia. They also sell dance accessories, such as practise socks & skirts, hair accessories, patterns, braid, buttons & more.
Competitions
All the best resources for competitions, where to register, what to expect and more.
HD Comps is where you go to register for Highland dance competitions in Australia. Nearly all competitions can be registered for on here (there are a few exceptions, which you will have to keep an eye out for as they are hard to find how to register!) and it is a great way to keep track of which competitions are coming up.
This article gives you a run down on how to prepare for your first competition.
Here is a bonus free pdf we have created to help you pack for competitions, so you don’t forget anything! Just select which page you need and print it off to use when you are packing.
This booklet covers best preparation techniques and exercises for dancers to use before performances, written by a dancer, teacher & adjudicator.
Fitness
From cross-training specifically for Highland dancers, to technique perfection, here are some tried and true resources.
Sandy Gribbin, is a Highland dancer who offers online workshops and programs covering a wide range of topics, such as cross-training, stretching, elevation and turnout.
David Wilton Dance Clinic - Highland Dancing on Demand
David Wilton is a Highland dancer and bagpiper who has created Highland Dance on Demand - a place where you pay a monthly subscription to access hundreds of Highland dance training videos, from technique to cross-training, monthly masterclasses and more.
Highland Hustle is a fun, Highland dance based workout, with both in person and online classes available.
Committees & Studios
Here is a list of the various committees in Australia, where you can find the information you need to find a teacher, register for competitions and more.