Scottish Sword Dance display by young Highland Dancers during Pitlochry Highland Nights July 2022

Some of the youngest members of the Jean Swanston Highland Dancers giving a display of the Scottish Sword Dance. This was one of their displays during the Pitlochry Highland Nights event in Pitlochry, Scotland on Monday 11th July 2022.

A Highland Night is an evening of traditional entertainment, full of Scottish Music and Dance. These outdoor productions have been performed weekly during the summer months since 1965. The compere is the well known local entertainer Alan Brown, and the piper here is Bruce Hinch.

The Sword Dance or 'Ghillie Callum' is an ancient dance of war of the Scottish Gael, said to date back to King Malcolm Canmore (Shakespear’s MacBeth). Malcolm Canmore, King of Scotland, fought a battle near Dunsinane against one of Macbeth’s chiefs in 1054 and either he or a Celtic Price then danced over the crossed swords in victory. However, it is also said that the Sword Dance was danced by warriors prior to battle.