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Scottish descendants, family, friends and members of the community are invited to attend the 25th annual Payson Scottish Festival which will be held Thursday, July 10, through Saturday, July 12. The festival is a free, community-sponsored event for the whole family.
Events begin on Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. with a 25th Anniversary Ceilidh at the outdoor amphitheater at the Peteetneet Academy and Museum. The accomplished Celtic acoustic group, Stonecircle will be performing. On Friday night at 6 p.m. another Ceilidh will be held at the bandstand located in the center of Memorial park. This Ceilidh will kick off the Scottish festival and will feature a variety of performers and entertainment.
On Saturday, July12, events are held from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Events include a breakfast, parade, opening ceremonies with massed bands, dance competitions, athletic competitions, bagpipe and drum competitions, lunch, band stand entertainment and closing ceremonies with massed bands. There will also be various booths throughout the park and children's activities as well.
For more information on activities and events occurring throughout the festival, visit their Web site at www.paysonscottishfestival.org.
The Scottish Highland dances have roots that reach back centuries. Many of the dances originated from wartime dances that showed physical prowess, stamina, and agility. The dances may have been used as a form of training, as a way to prepare for battle, or as a celebration of a victory. Many of the dances that are performed today have evolved over the years and have been standardized and shaped by organized competitions.
Traditionally the Scottish Highland dances were only performed by men. Women began competing in these events about a hundred years ago and in many competitions today far out number the men.
The dancers are judged based on three criteria. They are judged on timing which refers to their ability to follow the beat and rhythm of the music. They are judged on their technique which involves the correct execution of the dance steps. And they are judged on their general deportment which covers their overall appearance while dancing and their interpretation of the dance steps.
The highland fling is one of the most recognized of the Scottish Highland dances.
It is thought that the dance originated as a victory dance in which the warriors displayed their strength and agility.
Another suggested origin claims that the dance is a representation of a prancing stag. |
