Feet Positions for Scottish Highland Dancing

Video Transcript

" Hi this is Kira Cogswell VanSteenkiste representing expertvillage.com you could contact me at michiganhighlanddance.com and in this clip I will be demonstrating the basic foot positions of Scottish Highland dancing. There are five basic positions of Highland dancing. The first position is first position and first position is when your feet are at a 90 degree angle from each other and Highland dancing also has what is called line of direction which basically is a imaginary line that runs through the middle of your heels. When in first position your feet are 45 degree at a 45 degree angle from the line of interruption. First position is also done flat footed as I'm standing right now or it could also be done pose on the balls of both feet. The next position is second position and in second position the working foot which is the foot that I'm pointing out to the side is pointed 90 degrees in the line of direction and as you could see that the toe and the heels are in line with the heels of the supporting foot. In second position it may be placed on the toe as I am doing now on the half point or the heel and it may also be done on the ball which would be both feet are on the ball of both feet. In second position you could also do aerial set position would be done in low which would be lined with the ankle right out here or normal which would be in lined with the calves or high which would be in lined with the knee. Third position is the next position that is the next basic position and this is when the working foot is placed in the middle or in step of the supporting foot. It may be placed on the toe or the half point or the heel and when placed on the ball you will see that both feet are on the ball and the in step of the working foot is over the supporting foot. Adventive of third position is third aerial position where the working leg is with the knee held back is placed right underneath the knee of the supporting foot and as you could see it is right at the top of might highland hose. Another position third is called rear aerial position which is exactly like third aerial position but placed to the back resting on the calf. The next position is fourth position and fourth position is where the toe of the working leg is extended straight forward and is in line with the heel of the supporting leg as you can see. This is a position that we will be using in sword. The last basic position is fifth position and this position may be used in place of using third position and in many of the steps we will be doing or demonstrating later. And it may be placed on the toe or the half point or the heel and may also be placed on the ball. "