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However, if the sword
or scabbard were disarranged, the prediction was defeat. The great
Malcolm Canmore, Calum-a-Chinn More, is the supposed originator of the
modern sword dance, or Ghillie Callum. At a battle in 1054, he fought
and slew one of McBeth's chiefs near Dunsinane.
Taking his opponent's
sword, he formed a cross by arranging his sword over the sword of the
dead chief and triumphantly danced over the symbol. In the modern
dance, the top sword is in a direct line front to back, with the hilt
towards the dancer and with the centre of its blade directly above the
centre of the blade of the other sword, the hilt of which is to the
dancer's left.
The slip in footwork,
formerly interpreted as an evil omen, now provides one of the principal
methods of eliminating contestants.
Application forms for
entry to the dancing competitions for this years gathering can be
downloaded here |
