Some of the youngest members of the Jean Swanston Highland Dancers giving a display of the Scottish Sword Dance or 'Ghillie Callum'. This was one of their displays during the Pitlochry Highland Nights event in Pitlochry, Perthshire, 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

A young competitor in the Sword Dance, Scottish Highland dance heats during the 2023 Drumtochty Highland Games. These were held in the grounds of Drumtochty Castle at Auchenblae in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on Saturday 24th June 2023. 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) and also danced by warriors prior to battle. It requires a great deel of concentration on foot placement and you can

A Highland Sword dance display by juniors from the Lauren Kate School of Dance in Stonehaven. This was during the 2024 Stonehaven Feein' Market and these young lassies were dancing to the tune "Swing, Swing, Highland Fling". The Feein' Market is a wonderful day of music and dancing, with displays by Dunnottar Pipes & Drums and local dance schools, an outdoor market and lots of entertainment. This is all thanks to the work of Stonehaven & District Lions Club who organise this great annual event.

Dancers competing in the Scottish Sword dance heats during the 2025 Lonach Gathering and Highland Games. These were held on Saturday 23rd August 2025 and included both local and national dancers, from junior to adult, dancing on two dance boards throughout the day. In blue here on the right, is achael Walker from Aberdeenshire, a champion Highland dancer. #lonachhighlandgames #sworddance #highlanddancing | Aberdeenshire Scotland

Competitors in the Sword Dance Highland dancing competitions during the 2022 Drumtochty Highland Games. These were held in the grounds of Drumtochty Castle at Auchenblae in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on Saturday 25th June 2022. 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

Competitors in the Highland Fling Scottish Highland dance during the 2022 Kenmore Highland Games. These are held by Loch Tay at Kenmore in picturesque Perthshire, one of the only evening Highland Games in Scotland. The Highland Fling is one of the most famous Scottish dances performed at competitions and championships throughout the world. It is said to have been inspired by the sight of a stag jumping around a hillside. The dancers movements; the arms held aloft like antlers, the feet dancing f