Highland Dancing students can gauge their progress via two channels, Medal Tests and Competitions

Medal Tests

Medal Tests are conducted by various professional teaching bodies affiliated to the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing, the world-wide governing body for Highland Dancing. Examples of these teaching bodies are UKAPTD (United Kingdom Alliance of Professional Teachers of Dancing), BATD (British Association of Teachers of Dancing, SDTA (Scottish Dance teachers Association), ISTD (Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing).

Amateur tests take the student dancer from basic beginner to senior advanced levels. Professional examinations progress these dancers to become qualified teachers through Associate, Member and Fellowship of a particular teaching body which usually has Branches in a variety of dance style. It is a requirement that a teacher, wishing to enter pupils for Medal Tests, should be a qualified member of one of these professional teaching bodies.

Competitions

Competitions are held at many venues in the UK throughout the year, the ultimate one being Cowal Highland Gathering in Dunoon, Scotland, which hosts the Highland Dancing World Championships. The majority of Highland Dancing Competitions are registered and organised under SOBHD rules. Every dancer in the World who wishes to enter one of these competitions must register with the SOBHD. Progression through the ability range is by success in your current Status Group.

Status Groups

Primary (Under 7 years), Beginners (7 years & Over), Novice, Intermediate, Premier. A full explanation of these groups can be obtained from the SOBHD.
 
 

Dances at Competitions

Dancers are permitted to dance Highland Fling, Sword Dance, 16 Pas de Basques and Pas de Basques and High Cuts x 4.

Beginners & Novice

Dancers are permitted to dance Highland Fling, Sword Dance, Seann Triubhas, a Reel, Scottish Lilt and Flora Mac Donald's Fancy. A Special 6 step Fling is often also added to the syllabus to give them an extra dance.

Intermediate & Premier

Dancers are restricted to 10 dances within a competition. These would include Fling, Swords, Seann Triubhas, a Reel, a selection of Nationals plus Jig and Hornpipe. Some competitions may include a 'team' dance e.g. Broadswords, Cakewalk, Strathespey & Reel Team, but this would count as one of the 10 dances. The selection of dances on any competition syllabus is the decision of the Competition organiser.  Further Information

Further information on Competitions and Medal Tests conducted by affiliated professional teaching bodies can be obtained from the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing, 32 Grange Loan, Edinburgh. For examples of the Application forms for Pre-Premier and Premier dancers, follow the Hyperlinks and use the "Back" function to return here. (These links have been removed under instructions of the SOBHD)