Continuity and Change in the Scottish Dancing Tradition in the 19th–21st Centuries as Exemplified by the “Reel of Tulloch”

Abstract

Integrating a wealth of historical and ethnographic data from various regions of Scotland and beyond, the article examines the dynamics of continuity and change within the frame of over 200 years of the Scottish dancing tradition, exemplified by the Reel of Tulloch, a variation of one of the four main dances performed at Highland dancing competitions worldwide. In particular, the article focuses on the historical and cultural significance of the instances transforming the dance repertoire linked to its inclusion into the competitive programme of the Highland Games in the 19th century and the regulation of technique and dance steps in the middle of the 20th century. The role of cross-generational ties in the preservation and development of Scottish dancing is emphasized as well. A blend of dance semiotics and historical anthropology allows us to examine the ethnocultural significance of dancing from different perspectives and reach a balance between a constructivist view of Scottish dancing as an “invented tradition”, on the one hand, and experiences of mutually enriching creative collaboration between numerous generations of dancers, teachers, judges, musicians and spectators, on the other.