Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing

60th Anniversary of the S.O.B.H.D.

To commemorate its 60th anniversary (1950 - 2010), the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing is planning to publish a book relating to highland dancing.

The book will be available for purchase later this year.

In addition there will be an anniversary celebration dinner and ceilidh, to be held on Sunday 22nd August 2010 at the Piping Centre, Glasgow. Ticket details will be released shortly.

Billy Receives The 2009 Atholl Clasp

Congratulations to Billy Forsyth MBE who has been awarded the 2009 Atholl Clasp.

Billy was presented with a set of cufflinks, engraved with WB MBE, by the SOBHD Chairman Christine Lacey.

SOBHD Old Steps & Traditional Scripted Dances

An SOBHD Old Steps Folder and Traditional Scripted Dances Folder are now available for purchase. The cost of these are £10 each plus postage and packaging. Please contact the Board office for further details.

2008-2009 Oscar Winners

Congratulations to the 2008-2009 Oscar winners...

Junior Winner: Sophie Oliver

Adult Winner: David Wilton

Juvenile Winner: Robyn Hart-Winks

Congratulations Iain Macdonald

Congratulations to Iain Macdonald who has just become an Honorary Member of the SOBHD in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Highland Dancing.

Iain started dancing and piping at 7 years old, his teacher being Tommy Pollock from Glasgow. He also took lessons from Bobby Cuthbertson, Andrew Sutherland, Jackie Grant and Willie Cuthbertson and he continued his piping with world famous Glasgow piper Peter R. McLeod.

Iain joined The Queens Own Cameron Highlanders in 1959 and during his Army Career performed for The Royal Family on many occasions. He also performed in The Press Club New York for Brigadier McLean.

Iain continued to compete during this time and in one competition in Munster Germany, he competed against Mr. Robert Clark who like Iain now represents Scotdance Canada at Board Meetings. Iain left the Army in 1961 and returned to Willie Cuthbertsons’ dance classes, and in 1962 was 2nd in the World Championships. He joined the B.A.T.D. in 1972, the S.D.T.A. in 1973 and the judges panel in 1977. As well as teaching dancing successfully for many years, Iain organised the first Kirkintilloch Highland Games, The Glasgow Highland Gathering and The St. Mungo Championships.

Under the guidance of Angus Morrison Iain started piping for dancing competitions and over the years became many competition organisers regular piper and at Cowal Highland Gathering Iain piped for 43 consecutive years. Unfortunately due to lack of mobility Iain has retired from piping and I am sure you will all agree he will be irreplaceable in the dancing world.

Text provided by the SDTA.

2009 World Champions

Congratulations to the 2009 World Champions. Pictured from left to right are Morgan Bamford - World Junior Champion, David Wilton - World Adult Champion and Robyn Hart-Winks - World Juvenile Champion.

In Loving Memory of Mrs Adeline Duncan

For nearly 80 years, Adeline Duncan has been involved with Highland dancing.

Mrs. D taught in Victoria and trained many outstanding dancers including two World Champions, Jennifer Lindsay and Angus MacKenzie. Her other pupils read like a who’s who in Highland dancing – Cheryl Rafter, Jennifer Wilson, Anne Reid, Kathy Whyte, Lynn Griffiths, Kathy Giebelhaus, Laurel Adamson, Gayle Allen and of course, her daughter Heather Jolley. In addition to these active teachers there is a long list of successful competitors whose names are prominent on all the trophies at the BC Highland games.

Mrs. D has been the recipient of many accolades. She was elected an Honorary Member of the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing in Edinburgh, Scotland. She was named an Independent Member of ScotDance Canada. She also was presented with the Atholl Clasp recognizing her contributions to the Highland Dancing Community. She is a former member and examiner of the British Association Teachers of Dance and the UKA.

Mrs. D has always had a keen interest in anything to do with Scottish culture. Her husband, Ian, was a very well-known pipe major and through him she became actively interested in piping, and pipe bands. Mrs. Duncan was a lifetime supporter of the City of Victoria Pipe Band, and through the marriage of her niece, Nancy to the pipe major of the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band she became a fan of them too!

Although she was a very successful teacher, judge and adjudicator, Adeline made every attempt to attend meetings, workshop and competitions. Her advice to young teachers was “Never presume you know everything – you can always learn. There has never been a workshop that I attended where I didn’t learn something!”

She always enjoyed watching any competition, big or small, whether she knew the dancers or not. She was particularly pleased by the successes of her great-niece Fiona Lee, who is carrying on the family dancing tradition.

Mrs. Duncan passed away early morning, July 23, 2009. We have lost a true legend in Highland dancing!

Reproduced and edited from an article by Elizabeth Johnston in the Canadian Highland Dance Experience – Past, Present and Future.

The Gathering 2009 Information

The gates will open at 8am on Saturday and Sunday 25th/26th July. The box office to purchase entry tickets will also open at 8am on both days. The Road through Holyrood Park will be closed on both days. There is a drop off point at Holyrood Palace which is approx 5 mins walk to the event. There are no parking facilities in Holyrood Park but there is limited parking around the residential area of Meadowbank or at one of the city's park and ride facilities. Registration will commence at 8.30am on the Saturday and 9.00am on the Sunday in the Registration Tent within the Dancing Arena. Any dancer who has not received their information pack and number can collect this from the Registration Tent. On the Saturday, dancing will commence at 9am with Primary pas-de-basque, Beginners and Novice Highland followed by Flora & Lilt. There will be a short break around 11am while The Duke & Duchess of Rothesay formally open the event. Prizegiving for the Primary, Beginners and Novice Sections will take place around lunchtime. Registration for Intermediate and Pre-Championship Sections will take place at 1pm and these sections will start with the Highland at 1.30pm followed by Barracks Johnie, Flora, Lilt, Hornpipe and prizegiving. On Sunday dancing will commence at 9.30am with the Hornpipe followed by Flora, Lilt, Barracks Johnnie and then the Championships. Prizegiving for all sections will be at the end. The Highland Dancing is situated at the right hand side of the main Highland Games Arena see attached map.

2010 Championship Steps

The 2010 Championships Steps are now available for download.

Dancers Required for Judges Test

The SOBHD requires dancers to take part in the Mock Judges Test at the Wynd Centre, Paisley on Sunday 16th August 2009. Dancers should be Intermediate or Premier Standard but not Champions aged between 10 and 15. Full Details on attached application form . Please return to SOBHD Office by Friday 24th July 2009.

New Procedures for SOBHD Judges

The SOBHD would like to announce that it has appointed a Quality Assurance Committee. The purpose of this is to review all aspects of Quality Assurance in relation to adjudication, focussing on

- Continuing Professional Development

- Code of Conduct for Adjudicators

- Monitoring and Evaluation Procedures

In order to maintain standards and support fairness and consistency, a framework is being developed to promote excellence in judging.

The Gathering 2009

Scottish Highland Dancers across the world are invited to take part in an International Championship this summer. The Gathering 2009, in association with the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing, has created a one-off Highland Dance Championship as part of the greatest international clan gathering which takes place in Edinburgh on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 July.

The event is open to dancers from the age of 4 years upwards with Primary, Beginner, Novice, Intermediate, Pre-championship and Championship levels.

Each Highland Dancer taking part in The Gathering 2009 International Championship will receive a commemorative medal. Prizes will be made up of medals, trophies and money, depending on the category you enter.

Please go to the Forms & Downloads section for an application form and information sheet, and for further information go to The Gathering website.

Cowal Highland Gathering Entries

Cowal has announced Highland Dancing Entry Forms will be submitted by on-line submission only from Monday 16th March 2009. This year the order of dance in all competitions will be decided by a draw after the closing date for entries. Cowal will NOT be using the "first to enter last to dance" principle in any competition. This change is being introduced following a successful trial at Cowal in 2008 and as a result of feedback from the dancing community. The system will be fairer to all as your position in the order of dance will be unaffected by when your entry is submitted. It won't matter whether you enter on the first day or the last day, your chances of being last to dance will be exactly the same. Follow the link in the Forms & Downloads section to submit your application.

Temporary Registration Cards

SOBHD has introduced a new temporary registration card system. Dancers who wish to advance to the next category should present their current registration card to the Competition Organiser who will issue them with a Temporary Registration Card. A Novice dancer advancing to Intermediate should present their card at the first Intermediate competition and will be issued with a temporary card. The temporary registration cards are valid for 14 days from the date of issue. They must then be returned to the SOBHD Registration Unit along with the original registration card, appropriate application form, fee and photographs. Competition Organisers will find further information and downloads in the Competition Organisers' Section of the Members Area of this website.

Wilma Receives The 2008 Atholl Clasp

Congratulations to Wilma Tolmie who has received this year's Atholl Clasp presented by SOBHD Chairman Christine Lacey.

Ever since I can remember Wilma has produced champion dancers and is still producing champions. She has given many years of service to the Board Committees and many years to competition organising. Dancer, Teacher, Competition Organiser, Honorary Member of the Board, Wilma's career has covered all areas of Highland Dancing and she is a well deserving recipient of the Atholl Clasp.

Jean Swanston - Atholl Highland Dancing Association

Lynn McLaren 1919 - 2008

It is with great sadness that we inform you that Miss Lynn McLaren passed away peacefully on 10th December 2008. Evelyn McLaren was posted to Duns during the 2nd World War as a land girl. She and Ella Wynn started the Lynella Dance School in 1944. She placed an advert in a little sweet shop and over 60 dancers turned up on the night. When the war was over, the dancers begged her not to return to Edinburgh, so she and Ella stayed in Duns. Lynn was an Honorary Member of the SOBHD and formerly part of the Technical Committee. She became an Associate of the BATD in 1957, a Member in 1959 and a Fellow in 1981. Recognising her professional manner, knowledge and beautiful feeling for dance, Miss Sadie Simpson appointed her as an International Examiner in 1986. Since 1948 Lynn organised many dancing events in the Scottish Borders and the South of Scotland Highland Dancing Championships. Here she was pictured with one of her former pupils, Derek Chisholm, at the 60th Anniversary of the Lynella Ceillidh held in November 2004. A lovely lady who is remembered dearly by us all.

2007-2008 Oscar Winners

Congratulations to our Oscar Winners

Juvenile - Sophie Oliver

Junior - Charlene McMahon

Adult - David Wilton

2008 World Champions

Congratulations to our 2008 World Champions pictured left to right Morgan Bamford - Juvenile, Alexandra Matthews - Junior and David Wilton - Adult. Individual photographs by Ronnie Cairns.

New Highland Textbook Available

The New Text book is now available and costs £15 plus £2 postage and Packing (UK). To obtain your copy please contact SOBHD Office. Both 6th & 7th editions of the book will be accepted until 31st December 2008 then the new 7th Edition book will come into force on 1st January 2009.

New SOBHD Tartan also Available

The new SOBHD Tartan is now available. The cost is £35 per Yard, Double Width. Order direct from SOBHD Office 

Oscars 2006 - 2007

And the winners are in...

Adult Winner: David Wilton
Junior Winner: Laura Smith
Juvenile Winner: Charlene McMahon

Atholl Clasp 2007

Congratulations to Sheena McDonald who has received this year's Atholl Clasp, presented by SOBHD Chairman, Christine Lacey.

Sheena has been a mainstay of the Highland Dancing world for many years and is a worthy recipient of the Atholl Clasp. In fact when the 1st Atholl Dancing Festival was held as a fund raiser for the (local) Mid-Atholl Hall in 1976, Sheena was one of the judges who came and gave her time free that day. Thank you Sheena.

Jean Swanston - Atholl Highland Dancing Association

Dancers Performing at The Britain's Got Talent Auditions in Glasgow

Pictured to the right, dancers from the SOBHD performed a spectacular dancing display at the Britain's Got Talent Auditions held in Glasgow.

Britain's Got Talent Glasgow Auditions

ITV's Britain's got Talent is looking for talented Highland Dancers and other Scottish Acts of all ages. Filming will take place in Glasgow from 14th - 18th November 2007. To apply, please contact Ben Cannon Tel: 0207 6915238 or e-mail ben.cannon@talkbackthames.tv. Alternately you can apply on-line at www.itv.com/talent or you can request an application form by writing to Britain’s Got Talent, 1 Stephen Street, London W1T 1AL.

X Factor Auditions in Glasgow

SOBHD dancers who performed in front of X Factor hopefuls and Judges Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh, Sharon Osborne and Dannii Minogue at the Glasgow Auditions on 1st - 3rd July 2007.

Billy Forsyth MBE

Congratulations to Billy Forsyth for being awarded an MBE for services to Highland dancing worldwide in the Queen's Birthday Honours List June 2007. This is well-deserved recognition for his hard work and dedication over the years.