The Highland Fling and How to Teach it Part 1

The Highland Fling and How to Teach it.

by Horatio N. Grant.

In teaching fancy dances, more rapid progress will be made by forming exercises characteristic of the movements to be executed.

This dance comprises a hopping movement and the laws of opposition must be observed with the hands and arms, therefore I will give a few exercises which must be thoroughly practised.

In describing, the letter R denotes right foot, L, the left.

EXERCISE NO. I

Hop four times on L. (one bar, four counts.)

Hop four times on R. (one bar, four counts.)

Hop four times on L. (one bar, four counts.)

Hop four times on R, turning completely around towards the right hand.

(one bar, four counts.)

Repeat the whole movement by hopping first on R, then on L, then on R, then on L, turning towards the left hand.

This exercise lays the foundation for the fling.

Exercise No. 2.

Stand on L, extend R to second position, (count one.)

Bring the R up back of L, (count two.)

Extend R to second position, (count three.)

Bring R up in front of L, (count four, one bar.)

Go through the same positions with L, to the same number of counts, (one bar.)

Repeat again with R, (count four, one bar.)

Hop four times on R, turning towards the right hand, (count four, one bar.)

This makes four bars.

Repeat the entire movements with L, which will bring the turn the last time on L, towards the left hand, completing the eight bars.

Note--In placing the R or L in second position, do not extend it too far out, let the toe only touch the floor, the heel well raised. The toe should be pointed towards the floor as much as possible in all movements.

Exercise No. 3.

This exercise I introduce for the changing of weight from one foot to the other.

Hop on L, and at the same time and count, extend R to second position, (count one.)

Hop again on L, and at the same time and count, bring R up in front of L, (count two, R is now up.)

Hop on to R and at the same time, and count, extend L to second position (count one.)

Hop again on R, and bring L up in front, toe pointed, (count two.) Repeat changing from one foot to the other, until an easy movement has been acquired.

Exercise No. 4.

Hand Movements--Place right hand on the hip, the fingers towards the back, raise the left well up with the fingers towards the head which makes a rounding position of the arm, or describing a half circle from the shoulder to the fingers, the head should be inclined a little to the left.

Hold this position, (count four, one bar.)

Reverse it, right up, left on hip, (count four, one bar.)

Repeat the left, (count four, one bar.)

Reverse it, right up, left on hip, (count four, one bar.) while the turn is being made.

Keep this position, right up, left on hip, (count four, one bar.)

Note--The movements of the feet will be changed from R to L.

Reverse it, left up, right on hip, (count four, one bar.)

Repeat, right up, left on hip, (count four, one bar.)

Reverse it, left up, right on hip, (count four, one bar.) 8 bars will complete the hand movements, leaving them in position for the next step.

As the effect of the dance depends largely upon the artistic movements of the hands, this exercise should be well studied.

Abbreviation Left hand up, while the R foot is moving and the L hopping.

Right hand up while the L foot is moving and the R hopping.

Left hand up, while the R foot is moving and the L hopping.

Right hand up, while turning with hopping step on R foot.

Keep the right hand up after turning for the beginning of the next step.