Here is the story of how I checked #18 off my bucket list...1996
Why did I want to learn how to highland dance? Well, my maiden name is Scottish and I married into a Scottish name but most of the traditions of that background are lacking. Hogmanay was referred to by some as New Years. On Robbie Burns Day, no one would touch a Haggis and bag pipe playing in the house was enjoyed as much as my Trombone and Saxophone practice for band class. At least there were shortbread cookies, scones and whiskey.
I decided I wanted to learn about highland dancing. Typically, dance classes were started around age 4 and you were done by 16 or so, unless you wanted to become a teacher. So at 25, I had a little catching up to do.
Classes started in September to April with an exam at the end of the year. Pass the exam and you got to learn new dances the next year. Fail and you do the same dances all again.
I started taking classes in January as part of a New Year’s Resolution, not realizing the extra pressure it would put on me to learn the dances for exam time. Thankfully I loved it! Absorbed the dances like a sponge and awaited my exam.
Examiners were flown in from Scotland and billeted with the teacher. You hoped that their stay with the teacher the night before was pleasant because one mistake cost you a mark, lose four marks and you fail. I had three dances to perform on one test. Luckily for me, three dancers would perform in front of the examiner at a time. I hoped that if I made a mistake, she might be looking at the other dancers.
Seconds before my exam, my teacher lined us up in order of the exam sheets, gave us last minute tips like march in tall, feet out, don’t look at the other dancers and smile. I started to get nervous as the door to the exam room opened. We marched in and stood tall in front of the examiner. She looked us over and asked our names.
While we waited to start, I glanced at the girl to my right. A pretty brunette, cute as a button, I guessed about 5 years old. The girl to my left was a blond, hair pulled into a tight bun, a bit of a nervous smile as she looked at me. I smiled back and she relaxed. I guessed her age to be 6 years. The examiner looked at me sternly and said in her thick Scottish accent, “I think ye may be in the wrong exam”. I replied nervously, “Actually, I am in the correct exam”. She paused, then a large smile developed on her face and she said, “Good fer you, lassie.”
I passed that exam with a highly commended and I have continued to dance – still love it!
#18 Learn to highland dance added to the list in 1986, checked off the list 1996.
No comments:
Post a Comment