The subject of this volume is Scottish traditional dances, their historical roots and associated culture. It is directed not just towards the interests of the dancer and dance teacher but a wider audience seeking out a more specific, authentic understanding of the corpus and forms of Scottish dance which have survived into recent times.

The traditional dances of Scotland are steeped in Celtic heritage, music, character and folklore but not entirely isolated from other European, Scandinavian and English influences. In turn, they made their contributions to the world stage with colourful, disciplined performance standards appreciated by casual observers and the dance connoisseur alike. As such, they have evolved into one of the most widely recognized dance forms.