Highland Dance Championship draws dancers from across the Maritimes to Moncton

Traditional music and highland dress took over the gymnasium at Riverview East School in Moncton, N.B., Saturday for the Closed Highland Dance Championship and February Fing competition.

The event welcomed approximately 50 highland dancers from all three Maritime provinces to showcase their skills as part of Riverview’s Winter Carnival. More than100 participants signed up for the afternoon February Fling portion of the event.

Jane Dunnett is the director of the Dunnett School of Highland Dance. She said there is a story behind all of the traditional dances.

“The Sword Dance was a victory dance after battle,” Dunnet said. “The Seann Triubhas was related to the English banning the use of kilts after the Battle of Culloden.”

The Dunnett School of Highland Dance celebrates 50 years in Riverview in 2025. Dunnett has been involved in highland dancing for more than six decades. She said there is renewed enthusiasm every year.

“Last year we started a tiny tots dance class that had children as young as three years old starting,” Dunnet said. “That was a new experience for me and I enjoyed it, but we have dancers here today that are in their late 30’s that are competing and hats off to them. I’m impressed when they enjoy it so much and stay with it so long.”

The event and the sport are dominated by women today but there were at least two men signed up for the Saturday competition. Dancers were accompanied by piper, James MacHattie from Summerside, P.E.I.

“I think it’s important to maintain those traditions and […] the dancers are not all Scottish descent,” Dunnet said. “They’re doing it because they love it in most cases and they’re learning a skill, a type of dance, that is very detailed in terms of the technique and also requires a lot of strength and stamina.”

Dunnett said there are competitions all across the Martimes and she expects the sport will continue to grow.

“There’s no signs of it letting up,” she said. “The dancers are still enjoying it.”

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