Grade 4 Highland Flashcards
4th Intermediate position
The working leg is extended diagonally forward at an angle of 45 from the line of direction with the working foot placed on the toe, half point or ball.
4th Intermediate aerial position
The working leg is extended as in fourth intermediate
position, but raised to the required level, low or normal.
4th Intermediate rear position
As in 4th intermediate position, but the working leg is
extended to the rear and is placed only on the ball.
4th Intermediate rear aerial position
As in fourth intermediate rear position, but with
the working leg raised to normal level.
Shake for Seann Triubhas
A shake is always executed in conjunction with a hop. Each shake action should finish
with a straight leg.
The working foot is progressively extended by two or more subsidiary movements
(called shake actions) from 3rd or 5th position to 2nd aerial position high. The shake
actions come from the knee controlled by the thigh and they should be started while
flexing the knee of the supporting leg in preparation for the hop, simultaneously on
landing from which, the working foot arrives at its highest point.
Counted: “and and a 1”
Balance
Commence with the right foot in 4th intermediate aerial position, with hips
facing the front with the right shoulder slightly advanced, the arms in 3rd position and
the head in 2nd position. Spring on to that foot displacing the supporting foot which is
taken to fourth intermediate rear aerial position. Repeat contra to complete the
movement and finish in the starting position. This movement occupies 2 beats of music.
Counted: “1, 2”
Entrechat
A movement of elevation commencing on the balls of both feet in 3rd or 5th
position. During the elevation execute two change actions before landing with the same
foot in front.
Counted: “and a 1”
To what height is a balance danced?
Normal
Name one step or movement in a Highland that uses this position:
4th Intermediate
Last step of the sword (corner beat, side beat)
Travelling Balance
Commence with the right foot in fourth intermediate aerial position
with hips facing the front, right shoulder slightly advanced, the arms in 3rd position and
the head in 2nd position.
Bring the right foot inwards to take two steps and soft spring RF, LF, RF, travelling
diagonally backwards in a line approximately 45 to the line of direction, the foot
positions being 5th position, fourth intermediate rear position, and 5th position
respectively, extending the left foot to 4th intermediate rear aerial position
simultaneously on taking the soft spring (count “1 & 2”). The above is now repeated
contra, travelling forward along the same diagonal line to finish the movement in the
original starting position (count “3 & 4”).
Note:
Throughout the movement, the upper part of the body is held erect.
Arms:
The arms are taken upwards and inwards to 4th position during the backward
travel then returned to 3rd position during the forward travel or, alternatively, during the
backward travel they are circled outwards and downwards at the sides to 5th position
then, during the forward travel, they are circled outwards and upwards at the sides to
third position.
Round-the-leg (Single)
The working foot is passed from 3rd rear aerial position to 3rd
aerial position or vice versa. During the movement the working foot must be kept as
close as possible to the supporting leg with the knee of the working leg held well back.
Round-the-leg (Double)
Spring onto LF taking RF to 3rd rear aerial position, quickly
execute a round-the-leg movement to 3rd aerial position and return to 3rd rear aerial
position.
Note:
This may only be executed in conjunction with a hop high cut during bars 7 & 8 of
the following:
Basic Reel Steps: 2nd - Shake and Travel , 3rd (1st Alt.) - Balance PDB finishing with 4
HC, 6th (1st Alt.) - Balance Round-the-leg finishing with 4 HC, 9th Alt. - HC in front and
Balance.
This may also be executed throughout the 16th Basic Reel Step in Last Step - High
Cutting.
Open Pas de Basques in all positions
As for Pas de Basque, except that the front
foot is placed in 4th-opposite-5th position, 4th position, 4th Intermediate position and
2nd position and there is no extension at the finish. The movement is only used in the
Sword Dance.
For Reference: (Pas de Basques: Preparing with an extension of the working foot to
2nd aerial low, spring to that side, bringing the new working foot to 3rd or 5th position,
placing it on the half point, then beath the ball of the other foot in 3rd or 5th rear position
at the same time sharply extending the front foot, if required, to begin the next
movement.
Note 1:
The same position, 3rd or 5th must be used throughout the movement
Note 2:
When a turn, or part of a turn, is executed using two pas de basque, there is no
extension to finish the first pas de basque and the second is danced with little or no
travel.
Note 3:
This movement may also be danced with other than lateral travel, in which case
the extension of the starting foot is along the required line of travel, generally towards
4th Intermediate aerial position.
Note 4:
The back beat should not be exaggerated and should be executed on count 2
and the toe raised no higher than the heel of the supporting foot.
Counting (2 pas de basques): Sword: 1& 2, 3& 4
All other dances: 1 & 2, 3 & 4 )
Name a step which uses open pas de basques in each position:
2nd:
4th:
4th Intermediate:
4th Opposite 5th:
2nd: Crossing and pointing
4th: Crossing and pointing
4th intermediate: Open pas de basques
4th Opposite 5th: Regular open pas de basques
Circling of the arms
When executing 3 circles of the arms, they should move in a
continuous circle without stopping. The arms should come through 5th position during
count 4 and continue circling. At the end of bar 3, the arms should finish in 5th position.
Placing of working foot on the heel
When the heel is in contact with the ground with
the sole of the foot kept straight and inclined upwards, the working foot is said to be
placed on the heel. The heel is always placed without pressure, except in the 11th
Seann Tiubhas step in which the weight is momentarily taken on it.
When the working foot is placed on the heel in any open position except
4th-opposite-5th, the knee of the working leg is kept stretched. When the working foot is
placed on the heel in a closed position, the knee is slightly flexed.
In which positions can you place the working foot on the heel?
2nd, 3rd, 5th, 4th opposite 5th
Supporting foot
The foot supporting the weight of the body. While dancing it is always
the ball of the supporting foot that is in contact with the ground. The landing from
elevated movements should be centered on the ball of the foot with the knee over the
middle toe.
It should be the aim of the dancer to keep the supporting leg turned out at an angle of
45 to the line of direction. This turning out of the knees tends to keep the apron of the
kilt flat. The turnout should start at the hips.
How much turnout is required from the supporting foot?
At least 45 degrees
Ground Positions
A ground position is one in which both feet are in contact with the
ground.
List the 5 basic ground positions, and 4 derived positions
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
Derived: 4th intermediate, mid 4th, 3rd crossed, 4th opposite 5th
What are the 5 ways you can place your foot in ground positions
Toe, halfpoint, ball, heel or flat
Rear positions
A rear position is one in which the working foot is to the rear of the
supporting foot.
List all rear positions
3rd (aerial), 4th intermediate (aerial), 5th, 4th opposite 5th, 4th
Which 4 positions DO NOT have rear equivalents?
1st, 2nd, mid 4th, 3rd crossed
How can you never place your foot in a rear position?
Heel
Introduction for the Seann Triubhas (one method)
Bar 1 and 2: Stand as for bow
Bar 3: Bow (Count 1, 2, 3, 4)
Bar 4: Taking arms to first position if not already so placed, step LF towards second
position, making 1⁄8 of a turn to the right step RF to fourth rear position flat, to finish with
LF pointed to fourth position (count 5, 6); take arms through fifth position then raise
them up in front of the body to fourth position (count 7) then carry arms out to third
position and rise (count 8).
OR
Alternative Introduction:
Bars 1-3: As for introduction
Bar 4: Pivot 1⁄8 turn on ball of LF keeping heel off the floor (count 5), step RF in fourth
rear position flat to finish with LF pointed in fourth position (count 6). As above for
counts 7, 8.
Arms: As for Introduction
Name one step or movement in a Highland that uses this position:
4th Intermediate aerial
Balance
Name one step or movement in a Highland that uses this position:
4th Intermediate rear
Travel from the step (Travelling balance)
Name one step or movement in a Highland that uses this position:
4th Intermediate rear aerial
Balance
