A work-in-progress list of published and some unpublished research on Scottish, Cape Breton, Irish dance and some other related and ethnochoreological material. Many of the sources listed are no longer available in print.
Scottish Dance Research—Contextual & Social aspects—Dance Manuals
Pat Ballantyne—Scottish Dance scholar
(2003) Fashionable Dancing—The Dance Manuals of James Scott Skinner. Northern Scotland, 23, 107-116.
(2019) Scottish Dance Beyond 1805: Reaction and Regulation. London: Routledge.
Elizabeth Casciani
(1995) Oh, How We Danced! The History of Ballroom Dancing in Scotland.
Rosemary Coupe (1939-2024)
(2010) “The Evolution of the ‘Eightsome Reel’.” Folk Music Journal 9(5): 693-722.
The Extraordinary Dance Book T B. 1826: An Anonymous Manuscript in Facsimile
(2000) Elizabeth Aldrich (editor), Armand Russell, Sandra Noll Hammond. The Extraordinary Dance Book T B. 1826: An Anonymous Manuscript in Facsimile. Pendragon Press.
George S. Emmerson (-2001)—Scottish scholar based in Canada
(1970). The Hornpipe. Folk Music Journal, 2(1), 12-34.
(1972) A Social History of Scottish Dance. Ane Celestial Recreation. Montreal and London, McGill-Queen‘s University Press.
This book is primarily concerned with the character and place of Scottish dance in Scottish life from earliest times to the present. It is a synthesis of the cultural and social history of Scotland with dance as its centre. Scotland is treated, not in isolation, but as an integral part of the British Isles and as an ethnical part of Europe. No student of the peoples of the British Isles can overlook their remarkable cultural unity — the evidence of a large body of lore and traditional art that is shared — nor fail to observe their equally remarkable cultural diversity. [Text from Introduction of book].
(1981) Scotland through her Country Dances, Galt House, Canada.
(1988) Rantin´ Pipe and Tremblin´ String. History of Scottish Dance Music (1971. 2nd Revised Ed. 1988 ed.): Galt House, Canada.
(1995) A Handbook of Traditional Scottish Dance. Oakville, Galt House. An updated but edited down version of A Social History of Scottish Dance.
(1997) Scottish Country Dancing – An Evolutionary Triumph. Oakville, Galt House.
Tom & Joan Flett with Frank Rhodes
Thomas (Tom) Muirhead Flett (1923-1976) and Joan Flett (1923-2016) with Frank Rhodes researched in the 1950s, Shetland, Orkney, Highlands and Islands, Angus, Fife, Perthshire, Borders and Wigtownshire mainly. They also did extensive dance research in England. Their archive spans some 10000 pages and is available online at instep.co.uk. Copies of most of the material are also held by the family and in Mats Melin and Chris Metherell private archives.
Flett, J. F. and T. M. Flett (1953-54) “Some Hebridean Folk Dances.” Journal of the English Folk Dance and Song Society (J.E.F.D.S.S.) No. 7: 112-127, 182-184. (1953-1954). Addenda
(1955) “Origin of the Strathspey Minuet.” Notes and Queries, 2, 11-12.
(1955) Dances from Canada. The Reel,(23).
(1955) Dances from Canada (Conclusion). The Reel, (24).
(1956) “Dramatic Jigs in Scotland.” Folk-Lore LXVII (67): 84-96.
(1956) “Some Early Highland Dancing Competitions.” Aberdeen University Review 36: 345-358.
In 1956, six articles on Orkney dancing were published in the Orkney Herald:
Flett 1 – 7 August 1956 Orkney Herald
Flett 2 – 4 Sept 1956 Orkney Herald
Flett 3 – 11 Sept 1956 Orkney Herald
Flett 4 – 18 Sept 1956 Orkney Herald
Flett 5 – 2 October 1956 Orkney Herald
Flett 6 – 9 October 1956 Orkney Herald
Anon – 9 October 1956 Orkney Herald
(1957) “Social Dancing in Scotland, 1700-1914.” Scottish Studies 2: 153-164.
(1964) Traditional Dancing in Scotland … With an appendix ‘Dancing in Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia’ by F. Rhodes. [With maps, musical illustrations and diagrams.]. London, Routledge & Kegan Paul. REPRINTED in paperback 1985.
(1965) The Bumpkin. Scottish Studies, 9, 85-89.
(1966-67) David Anderson of Dundee and his Ballroom Guides. I-IV. The Thistle, 29-31.
(1967) The Fair Assembly. The Scots Magazine (New Series), 86, 540-545. (1967) The Scottish Country Dance. Its Origin and Development I. Scottish Studies, 11(1).
(1967) The Scottish Country Dance. Its Origin and Development II. Scottish Studies, 11(2).
(1972) “The History of the Scottish Reel as a Dance Form I.” Scottish Studies 16(2). Off-print of articles.
(1973) “The History of the Scottish Reel as a Dance Form II.” Scottish Studies 17(2). Off-print of articles.
(1993) Traditional Step-Dancing in Lakeland (1979. Reprinted 1993 ed.). London: The English Folk Dance and Song Society.
Flett, Joan. (1993) The Hornpipe in Scotland.
(1996) Traditional step-dancing in Scotland / J.F. and T.M. Flett. With an appendix: Step-dancing in Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia / by F. Rhodes. Edinburgh, Scottish Cultural Press.
Ewan Forbes
(1989) The Dancers of Don. Aberdeen University Press.
Joan Henderson—Scottish scholar and former Board member of the STDT
(1995) Dance Studies Vol. 19: The Traditional Dances of the Outer Hebrides. Centre for Dance Studies.
Evelyn M Hood—Scottish writer and former chairperson of STDT
(1980) The Story of Scottish Country Dancing. The Darling Diversion. Glasgow, Collins.
Hood, E., J. Henderson, A. MacFadyen & M. Melin (2001) Tak Yer Places. A photographic record of dance and music in Angus over the past 200 years. Stirling, The Scottish Traditions of Dance Trust. Limited edition print.
Maria Leask & Mats Melin
(1995) Dancing in Shetland. Lerwick: Shetland Arts Trust.
G W Lockhart
(1998) Highland Balls and Village Halls. A Look at the Scot and his Dancing. Edinburgh: Luath Press.
(1998) Fiddles and Folk. A celebration of the re-emergence of Scotland’s musical heritage. Edinburgh: Luath Press.
Joseph Lowe—Dancing Master
Thomas, Allan (Ed.). (1992) A New Most Excellent Dancing Master. The Journal of Joseph Lowe’s visits to Balmoral and Windsor (1852-1860) to teach dance to the family of Queen Victoria. Edited by Allan Thomas. New York: Pendragon Press.
In the mid-nineteenth century Joseph Lowe, dancing master of Edinburgh, taught at Queen Victoria’s Court, in autumn at Balmoral and Christmas time at Windsor. The Journal is an account of these visits–of Queen Victoria practicing her Scotch steps for the Reel, of Princess Alice who danced a fetching Spanish solo, of Prince Alfred who was talented on the violin, of the Princess who turned her foot inwards while dancing, of the spirited Lady-in-Waiting who begged for extra lessons, of the children’s chest expander exercises, and of how many trout Mr. Lowe caught when he took the Prince of Wales fishing. Concerts are held, balls last far into the night; the musical and dance life of the court is glimpsed through a myriad of Lowe’s co mments (always discreet), and a cheerful family life is portrayed. After the Prince Consort’s untimely death, Mr. Lowe no longer attends the court. Archives at Windsor Castle reveal that two of his daughters continued to teach there for a decade but no journal of the period has been traced to the New Zealand family collection (mentioned above) which contains the original Lowe manuscript.
James MacDonald-Reid—Canadian dancer and musician based in Scotland
(1991) The Indigenous Folk Dance of Scotland. A Report, The Scottish Arts Council and the National Gaelic Arts Project.
Alastair MacFadyen—the late Chair and Archivist of the RSCDS and former Board member of the STDT
MacFadyen, A. & F. H. Adams (1983) Dance with your soul a biography of Jean Callander Milligan by Alastair MacFadyen and Florence H. Adams. Edinburgh, The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society.
MacFadyen, A. & RSCDS. (1988) An album for Mrs Ysobel Stewart of Fasnacloich : co-founder of The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society /compiled and annotated by Alastair MacFadyen. Edinburgh, Royal Scottish Country Dance Society.
MacFadyen, A. & A. MacPherson, Eds. (2009) Frederick Hill’s Book of Quadrilles & Country Dances Etc, Etc, March 22nd, 1841: A reproduction of the original manuscript. Stirling, Scotland, Hill Manuscript Group: MacFadyen, Mackenzie and Macpherson.
Pipe Major John A MacLellan MBE
(1966) Bagpipe Music for Dancing. Patersons Publications Ltd.
Anne McKee Stapleton
(2014) Pointed Encounters. Dance in Post-Culloden Scottish Literature. Brill.
Mats Melin—ethnochoreologist & dancer
(1994) Hebridean Dancing. Scottish Arts Council’s Conference on the Diversity of the Scottish Traditions of Dance. Albert Hall, Stirling, Scotland.
(1995) Hebridean Dances – Dannsa nan Eileanach. Transcribed for the Comhlan Dannsa nan Eileanach. Stornoway, Acair.
(1997) A Sutherland Dance / Compiled by Mats Melin. Golspie, The Highland Council in association with the Scottish Arts Council. The Northern Times Ltd.
(2001) Dance! Dance! Dance!: Scottish Traditions of Dance Trust (STDT) Angus Project Report. Stirling, Scottish Traditions of Dance Trust (STDT). Unpublished but in 2019 a revised report was finalised by Mats Melin.
(2005) “Putting the dirt back in” – an investigation of step dancing in Scotland. Master of Arts in Ethnochoreology Dissertation, University of Limerick.
(2008) Observations of Communication between Dancer and Musician in the Cape Breton Community. Paper presented at the Dance Research Forum Ireland’s 2nd International Conference: Mediating Movement, Tralee, Ireland.
(2010) “Putting the dirt back in” – an investigation of step dancing in Scotland. In Ian Russell & Anna Kearney Guigné (Eds.), Crossing Over: Fiddle and Dance Studies from Around the North Atlantic 3 (pp. 215-227). Aberdeen: The Elphinstone Institute.
(2012) “Gendered Movements in Cape Breton step dancing.” In Proceedings of the 26th Symposium of the ICTM Study Group on Ethnochoreology 2010. In Elsie Ivanovich Dunin, Daniela Stavelova, Dorota Gremlicova, & Zdenek Vejvoda (Eds.), Dance, Gender, and Meanings : Contemporizing Traditional Dance (pp. 37-47). Trest, Czech Republic: Academy of Performing Arts in Prague; Institute of Ethnology of the Academy of Sciences, v.v.i. of the Czech Republic, Prague, 2012.
(2012) “Local, global, and diasporic interaction in the Cape Breton dance tradition.” In Ian Russell & Chris Goertzen (Eds.), North Atlantic Fiddle Convention 2010: Routes and Roots (Vol. 4, pp. 132-144). Aberdeen: Elphinstone Institute.
(2012) “The Past Present Scotch Reel.” Paper presented at the Eighth International Small Islands Conference, Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada.
(2013) “Step Dancing in Cape Breton and Scotland: Contrasting Contexts and Creative Processes.” MUSICultures. Special Issue: Atlantic Roots and Routes, eds. Heather Sparling, Kati Szego, and Frances Wilkinson, 40(1), 35-56.
(2013) “Visual Learning in the 21st Century: Cape Breton Step Dance on the Small Screen and as a Learning Tool in the Dance Class.” Canadian Folk Music, 46(4), 1-6.
(2015) One With the Music: Cape Breton Step Dancing Tradition and Transmission. Sydney, Canada: Cape Breton University Press.
(2017) “Images, Voices, and Reflections on Cape Breton Step Dance Style.” Canadian Folk Music, 49 (2015)(2/3), 19-25.
(2018) A Story to Every Dance. The role of lore in enhancing the Scottish solo dance tradition. Limerick: Lorg Press.
(2019) Hebridean Step Dancing: The legacy of nineteenth-century dancing master Ewen MacLachlan. Tales, histories, and descriptions of ten solo dances from South Uist and Barra. Limerick: Lorg Press.
(2019) “A favourite Scotch measure: the relationship between a group of Scottish solo dances and the tune ‘The Flowers of Edinburgh’.” In Liz Doherty & Fintan Vallely (Eds.), Ón gCos go Cluas – From Dancing to Listening (Vol. 5, pp. 177-187). Aberdeen: The Elphinstone Institute, University of Aberdeen.
(2022) Dancie John Reid of Newtyle. Notes on his life as an Angus dancing master, including extracts of several solo dances from his repertoire. Lorg Press.
(2023) “The ‘Scotch Reel’–as a Solo Dance: An Examination of the Circle Motif and Structure and its Connection to some Scotch Reels and Scottish Solo Dances.” Stepping On. Proceedings of the 2019 conference on stepping in dance. Edited by T. Bennett. EFDSS, London.
Mats Melin, Mitchelson, Deryck, & Mitchelson, Gareth
(2003) United Kingdom Alliance Scottish Step-Dance Exam Syllabus. Perpared for the UKA by scottishstep.com, May 2003. Monifieth, Scotland: scottishstep.com.
Mats Melin & Jennifer Schoonover
(2021) Dance Legacies of Scotland: The True Glen Orchy Kick. Routledge.
Jean C. Milligan
(1985) Won´t You Join the Dance? The Scottish Country Dance Manual. / by Jean C. Milligan foreword by the late Duke of Atholl. London: Paterson.
Maggie Moore—dancer & researcher
(1995) Scottish Step Dancing. Scotland Dances – Scottish Arts Council’s Conference on the Diversity of the Scottish Traditions of Dance (1994), Stirling, Scotland, The Scottish Arts Council.
Cecily Morrison
(2003) “Culture at the Core: Invented Traditions and Imagined Communities. Part 1: Identity Formation.” International Review of Scottish Studies 28: 3-21.
(2004) “Culture at the Core: Invented Traditions and Imagined Communities. Part 2: Community Formation.” International Review of Scottish Studies 29: 49-71.
Michael S. Newton—Gaelic scholar
(2009) Warriors of the Word: the world of the Scottish Highlanders. Edinburgh, Birlinn.
(2012) “The Hidden History of Highland Dance.” Celtic Life available on Academia.edu.
(2013) ” ‘Dannsair air ùrlar-déile thu’: Gaelic evidence about dance from the mid-17th to late-18th century Highlands.” International Review of Scottish Studies 38: 49-78.
Colin Quigley—ethnochoreomusicologist
(1985) Close to the Floor: Folk Dance in Newfoundland. St. John‘s, Newfoundland, Canada: Memorial University of Newfoundland.
(2008) “Step Dancing in Canada: From Shared Vernacular to Regional Styles.” In Mick Moloney, J’aime Morrison, & Colin Quigley (Eds.), Close to the Floor – Irish Dance From the Boreen to Broadway (pp. 35-46). Madison: Macater Press.
Moloney, Mick, Morrison, J’aime, & Quigley, Colin (Eds.). (2008) Close to the Floor – Irish Dance From the Boreen to Broadway. Madison: Macater Press.
Jen Schoonover & Mats Melin with Colin Robertson
(2026) As Before—Aberdeenshire Solo Dances of the Nineteenth Century. A fresh analysis of the fourteen solo dances notated in Frederick Hill’s notebook dated 1841. Lorg Press.
The Scottish Arts Council
(1992) Report on the Conference on the Scottish Traditions of Dance, 17 July 1992, Eden Court, Inverness. Edinburgh. (1994) Scotland’s Dances. A review of the 1994 Conference on the Diversity of the Scottish Traditions of Dance – 25/26 October, Albert Hall, Stirling.
The Scottish Traditions of Dance Trust (1995-2011)
The Scottish Traditions of Dance Trust was active between 1995 and 2011 as an umbrella organisation for various forms of Scottish Dance. STDT was the only national organisation which, at the time, existed to promote, research, conserve and foster all of Scotland’s dance traditions.
(1999) 3rd Annual General Meeting STDT—Souvenir Booklet—Ion Jamieson. Stirling: STDT.
(2000) 4th Annual General Meeting STDT—Souvenir Booklet—John Kirkpatrick remembers Dancie John Reid. Stirling: STDT.
FINAL REPORT STDT ANGUS PROJECT 2001_[2019_edition]
STDT Newsletter – 1996 – 2008. 30 issues from the Melin Archive.
Stage Dance Council
(1963) British National Dances. Scotland No. 2: The Highland Fling. London
(1963) British National Dances. Scotland No. 3: The Seann Triubhas. London.
(1963) British National Dances. Scotland No. 4: The Sword Dance. London.
Susan Self
(2002) “Scottish Dance: Towards a Typological-Historical Approach.” Studi Celtic—Italian Celtic Studies Journal, 1, 205-236.
Catherine A. Shoupe
(2001) “Scottish Social Dancing and the Formation of Community.” Western Folklore 60(2/3): 125-148.
Hugh Thurston (1922-2006)—Canadian based scholar and dancer
(1952) “The Development of the Country Dance as Revealed in Printed Sources.” Journal of the English Folk Dance and Song Society (J.E.F.D.S.S.) 7(1): 29-35.
(1954) Scotland’s Dances. London, G. Bell and Sons, Ltd. Reprinted 1984 by TacBooks in Canada.
(1955) The Hebridean Weaving Lilt. The Folk Dancer, Vol. 2, No. 1, March/April.
(1955) Historical and Analytical Notes (Weaving-lilts). The Folk Dancer, Vol. 2, No. 2, May/June, 1955.
(1955) Historical and Analytical Notes (Weaving-lilts) [continued]. The Folk Dancer, Vol. 2, No. 3, July/August, 1955.
Scottish Dance—Highland & National Dancing
David Anderson—Dancing Master
(1897) David Anderson‘s Ballroom Guide and Solo Dance Guide. Dundee: W. P. Saunders.
James Grahamsley Atkinson Jnr—Dancing Master
(1900) Scottish National Dances. A Practical Handbook. Edinburgh.
Brisbane Scottish Dancing Festival Committee
(1976) A Collection of Lesser Known Highland Dances.
The British Association of Teachers of Dancing
(1991) The Scottish National Dances (BATD). London. Various editions.
Bill Clement MBE—piper & dancer
(1994) The Argyll Broadswords. The origin and history. As danced in The Black Watch, 1st Bn: 1920’s & 1930’s; 10th Bn: 1940’s. Edinburgh: Bill Clement.
Bill Clement (1923-2012) was a dancer, a piper, and a dedicated teacher of both Scottish Country Dancing and piping.
Bobby Cuthbertson—Highland dancing teacher
Cuthbertson, Robert (‘Bobby’) MacNiven. (1935 (c.)) Highland Dances. Lanarkshire.
Billy Forsyth MBE
(2023) Dancing Through Life. My Steps on the Way.
Irene Fidler
(1999 c.) Ladies Step Dances. Devised by Irene Fidler. Newcastle, RSCDS Newcastle Upon Tyne and District Branch.
Kath Harrington (1923-2011)—Highland dancing teacher
(1987) Start on the Right Foot — a guide to Highland Dancing. Victoria, Australia.
Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD)
(1990) Scottish Dance Branch — Syllabus of Examinations, Country and Highland Dancing. Various editions.
Jack McConachie—Highland & Scottish Country Dancing Teacher
(1950-53) Letter of Service Series Highland and Scottish Dancing. Melin Personal Archive.
(1960) Solo dance descriptions. London: The Bonnie Breist Knot; The Cakewalk; Earl of Ross; The Clansman Sword Dance; The Dusty Miller; The Deeside Lilt; Hopetoun Reel. Melin Personal Archive.
(Peter White Ed.) (1972) Hebridean Solo Dances. London: Caber Feidh Publications.
(Peter White Ed.) (1972) High Cutting for Highland Dancers: Caber Feidh Publications.
(Peter White Ed.) (1976) Bonnie Dundee. London: Caber Feidh Publications.
Scottish Country Dance descriptions by Jack McConachie:
(1963) The Grampian Collection of Scottish Country Dances. Collected and arranged by Jack McConachie. The Imperial Society Of Teachers Of Dancing Incorporated.
(1967) Scottish Country Dances Of The Eighteenth Century. The Imperial Society Of Teachers Of Dancing Incorporated.
Russell, Edna, & Jack McConachie. (1966) The Imperial Book of Scottish Country Dances. Volume 1. London: Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing.
Russell, Edna, & Jack McConachie. (1971) The Imperial Book of Scottish Country Dances. Volume 2. London: Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing.
Russell, Edna, & Jack McConachie. (1981) The Imperial Book of Scottish Country Dances. Volume 3. Formby: Hugh Foss.
Russell, Edna, & Jack McConachie. (1983) The Imperial Book of Scottish Country Dances. Volume 4. The Jack McConachie Memorial Sword Competition Dances 1978-1983. London: Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing.
Russell, Edna, & Jack McConachie. (1993) The Imperial Book of Scottish Country Dances. Volume 5. The Jack McConachie Memorial Sword Competition Dances 1984-1993. London: Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing.
Russell, Edna, & Jack McConachie. (19??) The Imperial Book of Scottish Country Dances. Volume 1-3 Edinburgh, RSCDS.
Donald R MacKenzie—Dancing Master
(1910) The National Dances of Scotland. Glasgow: MacLaren.
Janet T MacLachlan (-2003)—Canadian dancing teacher
(1990) Book 1 of a Highland Dancer‘s Notebook. Ontario, Canada.
(1991) Book 2 of a Highland Dancer‘s Notebook. Ontario, Canada.
(1993) Book 3 of a Highland Dancer‘s Notebook. Ontario, Canada.
(1994) Book 4 of a Highland Dancer‘s Notebook. Ontario, Canada.
D G (Donald George) MacLennan (1870-1965)—Dancing Master
(1925) Highland Dancing. Guide to Judges, Competitors … Edinburgh.
(1950) Highland and Traditional Scottish Dances (1 ed.). Edinburgh. (2nd edition 1952)
J.C. Milligan & D.G. MacLennan (1950) Dances of Scotland. London: Max Parrish.
Graham MacNeilage—dancing teacher
(1900) How to dance the Eightsome Reel, Scotch Reel, Reel of Tulloch, Strathspey and Reel Steps. Alloa.
New Zealand & The New Zealand Academy of Highland & National Dancing Inc.
Sutherland, Alex. (1953) Southland School of Highland and Classic Dancing. 50th Anniversary Jubilee Celebrations 1903 – 1953. Souvenir Programme. Southland, New Zealand.
Nicholson, John Charles (1983) Piping and Dancing Association of New Zealand (inc) 1908-1983. New Zealand: Dominion Council, The Association, Privately printed, New Zealand.
(1996) The Story Of The First Fifty Years 1946 to 1996. The New Zealand Academy of Highland and National Dancing.
McCann, Ewen. (2005) William Sutherland of Thurso and Aberdeen—Highland Dancer. Lower Hutt, NZ: McCann.
Colin Robertson (-2021)—dancing teacher
(1967) Fivesome Reel. Reading: S.N.D.C.
(1975) Cockney Jocks. Reading: S.N.D.C.
(1980) Lochanside. Reading: S.N.D.C.
(1982) Hard Shoe Step Dancing in Scotland and The Flowers of Edinburgh. Reading: S.N.D.C.
(nd) Spinning Wheel.
(nd) A Strathspey and Reel Duet.
The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society
(1953) The Earl of Erroll. A Scottish Step Dance. Edinburgh, RSCDS.
(1953) The Flora MacDonald’s Fancy. Edinburgh, RSCDS.
(2009) The St Andrews Collection of Step Dances. Volume 1. Edinburgh: RSCDS.
(2013) The St Andrews Collection of Step Dances. Volume 1. Revised. Edinburgh: RSCDS.
(2010) The St Andrews Collection of Step Dances. Volume 2. Edinburgh: RSCDS.
Cramb, Isobel. (1953) Four Step Dances : Three solo dances based on the Hill MS, Aberdeen, 1841, and one from Miss Cruickshank of Peterhead. [Earl of Erroll, Scotch Measure, King of Sweden, Flora MacDonald‘s Fancy]. London: Paterson Publ.
Cramb, Isobel (1955?) The Graces. A Scottish Pas de Trois. Aberdeen.
Cramb, Isobel (1950s) Pas de Deux for Misses Grant. handwritten manuscript.
The Royal Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing (RSOBHD)
(1955 to present) Highland Dancing. Official Textbook. Thomas Nelson & Sons, Edinburgh, 1st ed. 1955. Currently 8 editions by various publishers.
(1971-) The Sailor‘s Hornpipe. Edinburgh. Various editions.
(1976-) The Sailor‘s Hornpipe & The Irish Jig, Scottish Version. Various revised editions.
(2008) 
(2021) The Irish Jig. Scottish Version.
(2020) Scottish National Dances for RSOBHD Competitions and Scottish National Dance Premiership.
Catriona M. Scott—dancer & researcher
(2005) The Scottish Highland Dancing Tradition. PhD, The University of Edinburgh.
The Scottish Official Highland Dancing Association
(1994) The A.B.C. of Highland Dancing and Games Directory. Kinmor Music. Out of print.
Scottish Dance Teachers’ Alliance
(1991) The Scottish National Dances (8th ed.) Glasgow. Various editions.
George Douglas Taylor—piper & dancing teacher
(1929) Some Traditional Scottish Dances / described by G. Douglas Taylor. With forty illustrations by Eileen Mayo. London: I.S.T.D.
United Kingdom Alliance of Professional Teachers of Dancing
(1995) The Scottish National Dances. (U.K.A.). Blackpool. Various editions.
J. F. Wallace—Dancing Master
(1872) The Excelsior Manual of Dancing. Glasgow
Deborah L Wardrope
(1997) Highland Dance Excellence From A Dream To Reality. Oakville, Ontario: Galt House Publications Ltd.
(Ed.) (2003) Canadian Highland Dance Experience – Past, Present and Future: ScotDance Canada. Editor.
Bill Weaver, Elizabeth Weaver, Christie Freestone & Kate DeGood
(2015) The Complete Guide to The Scottish National Dances. Includes BATD, SDTA and UKA versions within each step description (6 ed.).
David P. Webster OBE (1928-2023)—Highland Games & Sports promoter, author & historian
(2011) The World History of Highland Games. Edinburgh: Luath Press.
Kim Whitta—New Zealand Highland dancer
(1982 (c.)) Scottish Highland Dance—Tradition and Style. MA Thesis, The Queen’s University of Belfast.
Selected Scottish Country Dancing, Old-Time Dancing & Ceilidh Dancing books and manuals
John M Caskie
(2012) Kirkton’s 20th (Two Step) and other new dances.
David & May Ewart
(1996) Scottish Ceilidh Dancing. Edinburgh: Mainstream.
Andy Greig
(2017) 100 Favourite Ceilidh Dances. Edinburgh: Luath Press.
Roddy Martine & Andrew Campbell
(1990) The Swinging Sporran : a lighthearted guide to the basic steps of Scottish reels and country dances / Andrew Campbell, Roddy Martine. (3 ed.). Harmondsworth: Penguin.
The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society. (2014) The Manual of Scottish Country Dancing. Third edition – Electronic Version.
The Occasionals
(1992) Footnotes. The Dances
(1996) Back in Step. The Dances
(1991) The Ontario Dances. Toronto.
Robbie Shepherd MBE (1936-2023)—Broadcaster & author
(1992) Let’s have a ceilidh : the essential guide to Scottish dancing / Robbie Shepherd ; music selected and arranged by Jim Johnstone. Edinburgh: Canongate Press.
Jessie Stuart—Dance Teacher
(1994) The Good Old Times. Favourite Old Time Dances. Keith.
Selected Books on Canadian & Cape Breton Dance Traditions
Jørn Borggreen—Danish dancer
(2002) Right to the Helm – Cape Breton Square Dances. A collection of square sets. Jyllinge, Denmark: Jørn Borggreen.
Pierre Chartrand—Dancer, teacher, researcher
![La Gigue Québécoise [Quebec Step-Dancing tutor and history].](https://i0.wp.com/lorg-press.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Chartrand-Pierre.jpeg?resize=100%2C120&ssl=1)
(1991) La Gigue Québécoise [Quebec Step-Dancing tutor and history]. Quebec: l’Association Québécoise des Loisirs Folkloriques.
John G. Gibson—Historian
(1975) Fiddlers to the fore. Profiles of Cape Breton fiddlers, published for the 1975 Festival of Scottish Fiddlers. Port Hawkesbury: Scotia group Publishers.
(1998) Traditional Gaelic Bagpiping, 1745-1945. Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University Press.
(2005) Old and New World Highland Bagpiping. Edinburgh: Birlinn Ltd.
(2017) Gaelic Cape Breton Step-Dancing. An Historical and Ethnographic Perspective. Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University Press.
Kristin Harris Walsh
(2009) Dancing on the Head of a Pin: Irishness and Vernacular Dance in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. St. John’s: Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John’s.
Sherry Johnson
(2010) Step dancing to hip-hop? Reconsidering the interrelationship between music and dance in the Ottawa Valley step dancing community. In Ian Russell & Anna Kearney Guigné (Eds.), Crossing over : fiddle and dance studies from around the north Atlantic 3 (pp. 148-155). Aberdeen: The Elphinstone Institute.
(2010) Gendered Movement in Ottawa Valley Step Dancing.
Barbara Le Blanc
(1986). To Dance or Not To Dance: The Case of Church and Group Social Control in Cheticamp, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. (Master of Arts)
Mary Janet MacDonald, Betty Matheson, Diane Milligan & Dolena Roach.
(1994) No Less No More – Just Four On The Floor: A Guide to Teaching Traditional Cape Breton Square Sets for Public Schools (4 ed.). Halifax: DANS – Dance Nova Scotia.
Allister MacGillivray—Musician & author
(1988) A Cape Breton Ceilidh: Sea-Cape Music Ltd. Cape Breton.
(1997) The Original—The Cape Breton Fiddler. Marion Bridge: Sea-Cape Music Ltd. Cape Breton.
Barry W. Shears—Piper & author
(2008) Dance to the Piper: The Highland Bagpipe in Nova Scotia. Sydney, NS: Cape Breton University Press.
Heather Sparling—Ethnomusicologist
(1999) Mitigating or Marketing Culture? Promoting Mouth Music in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Canadian Journal for Traditional Music/Revue de Musique Folklorique Canadienne, 27, 1-9.
(2003) “Music is Language and Language is Music”: Language Attitudes and Musical Choices in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Ethnologies, 25(2), 145-171.
(2008) Categorically Speaking: Towards a Theory of (Musical) Genre in Cape Breton Gaelic Culture. Ethnomusicology, 52(3), 401-425.
(2011) Cape Breton Island: Living in the Past? Gaelic Language, Song, and Competition. In G. Baldacchino (Ed.), Island Songs: A Global Repertoire (pp. 49-63). Lanham & Toronto: Scarecrow Press.
(2014) Reeling Roosters and Dancing Ducks: Celtic Mouth Music. Sydney, NS.: Cape Breton University Press.
(2015) History of the Scotch Four: A Social Step Dance in Cape Breton. Canadian Folk Music, 49(2/3 (Summer/Fall)), 11-18.
(2018) Squaring Off: The Forgotten Caller in Cape Breton Square Dancing. Yearbook for Traditional Music, 50, 165-186.
Johanne Trew
(2003) Diasporic Lagacies: Place, Politics, and Music among the Ottawa Valley Irish. In Martin Stokes & Philip V. Bohlman (Eds.), Celtic Modern (pp. 93-118). Lanham: Scarecrow Press , Inc.
(2009) Place, Culture and Community: The Irish Heritage of the Ottawa Valley. Newcastle Upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Simonne Voyer (1913-2013)—Canadian dance ethnologist, researcher & author
(1986) Danse traditionnelle dans l’est du Canada: quadrilles et cotillions. Ottawa & Quebec: Les Presses de l’Universite Laval.
(2003) La Gigue, danse de pas. Quebec: Les Éditions GID.
(2009) La Contredanse au Québec: VARIA.
Selected Books on Irish Dance Traditions
Helen Brennan
(1999) The Story of Irish Dance. Kerry: Brandon Press.
Dr John P Cullinane—Irish dancer, teacher & historian
(1987) Aspects of the History of Irish Dancing. Cork: Privately Published.
(1990) Further Aspects of The History of Irish Dancing (in Ireland, England, New Zealand, N. America, and Australia). Cork: Privately Published.
(1990) Further Aspects of the History of Irish Dancing. Cork: Privately Published.
(1994) Aspects of The History of Irish Dancing (in Ireland, England, New Zealand, N. America, and Australia). Cork: Privately Published.
(1994) A Short History of Irish Dancing in Australia. Cork: Privately Published.
(1994) Irish dance world-wide: Irish migrants and the shaping of traditional Irish dance. In Patrick O’Sullivan (Ed.), The Creative Migrant. London: Leicester University Press.
(1996) Irish Dancing Costumes. Their origin and evolution. Cork: Privately Published.
(1997) Aspects of The History of Irish Dancing in North America. Cork: Privately Published.
(1998) Aspects of The History of Irish Céilí/Figure Dancing. (100 years of Céilí dancing 1897-1997). Cork: Privately Published.
(2001) Irish Dance. In The Heritage of Ireland: A Management Perspective.
(2003) An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha – Its Origins and Evolution. Cork: Privately Published.
(2013) Aspects of the History of Irish Dancing Commission Examinations-70 years 1943-2013. Cork: Privately Published.
(2013) Aspects of the History of Irish Dancing Commission Examinations-70 years 1943-2013. Cork: Privately Published.
(2014) Aspects of the History of Irish Dancing in London 1880-2014. Cork: Privately Published.
(2017) Irish Dancing In Dublin 1890-2017. The Evolution of Irish Dancing in the Great City of Dublin. Cork: Privately Published.
Kathleen Mary Flanagan
(1995) The History of the development and promotion of Irish dancing in Chigago. Ann Arbor, MI
Catherine E Foley—Ethnochoreologist, dancer, musician
(2001) Perceptions of Irish Step Dance: National, Global, and Local. Dance Research Journal, 33(1), 34-45.
(2004) Representing Irish Step Dance Heritage: Bridging Theory and Practice. Paper presented at the Dance Heritage: Crossing Academia and Physicality, Reykjavik.
(2011) The Irish Céilí: A Site for Constructing, Experiencing, and Negotiating a Sense of Community and Identity. Dance Research, the Journal of the Society for Dance Research, 29(1), 43-60.
(2007) The creative process within Irish traditional step dance. In Adrienne L. Kaeppler & Elsie Ivancich Dunin (Eds.), Dance Structures. Perspectives on the Analysis of Human Movement. (pp. 277-302). Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó.
(2012) Irish Traditional Step Dancing in North Kerry: A Contextual and Structural Analysis: North Kerry Literary Trust.
(2012) Ethnochoreology as a Mediating Perspective in Irish Dance Studies. New Hibernia Review, 16(2), 143-154.
(2012) The Roots and Routes of Irish Step Dancing: Issues of Identity and Participation in a Global World’. Published Keynote Address. In Ian Russell and Chris Goertzen (Ed.), Routes and Roots: Fiddle and Dance Studies from Around the North Atlantic 4 (Vol. 4, pp. 145-156). Aberdeen: The Elphinstone Institute, University of Aberdeen.
(2013) Step Dancing in Ireland. London: Ashgate.
(2017) Steps, Style, and Sensing the Difference: An Examination of Molyneaux’s Traditional Set Dances within Competition Culture. Paper presented at the 29th Symposium of the ICTM Study Group on Ethnochoreology, Retzhof Castle, Styria, Austria 2016.
(2019) Shifting Dynamics: Sean Nós Dancing, Vernacular Expression, and the Competitive Arena of the Oireachtas. In Sherril Dodds (Ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Dance and Competition (pp. 189-208). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Frank Hall
(2008) Competitive Irish Dance – Art, Sport, Duty. Madison: Macater Press.
Angeline King
(2019) Irish Dancing: A Festival Story: Leschenault Press.
Moe Meyer
(1995) Dance and the Politics of Orality: A Study of the Irish Scoil Rince. Dance Research Journal, 27/1(Spring), 25-39.
Pat Murphy
(1995) Toss the Feathers – Irish Set Dancing. Cork: Mercier Press.
(2000) The Flowing Tide – More Irish Set Dancing. Cork: Mercier Press.
Orfhlaith Ní Bhríain——Ethnochoreologist, dance teacher, musician
(2008) The Terminology of Irish Dance. Madison: Macater Press.
Órfhlaith Ní Bhriain, Mick McCabe. (2018) Jigs to Jacobites: 4000 Years of Irish History Told Through 40 Traditional Set Dances. Independent Publishing Network.
Barbara O’Connor
(1997) Safe sets: Women, Dance and ‘Communitas’. In Helen Thomas (Ed.), Dance in the City: MacMillan.
(2013) The Irish Dancing: Cultural Politics and Identities, 1900-2000. Cork: Cork University Press.
Eileen O’Doherty
(1995) The Walking Polka. A Collection of Sets. Dublin: Na Píobairí Uilleann.
J. G. O’ Keefe & Art O’Brien
(1902) A handbook of Irish dances. Dublin: O Donoghue and Co.
Peadar O’Rafferty
(1934) The Irish Folk Dance Book 1. London: Paterson.
(1950) The Irish Folk Dance Book 2. London: Paterson.
Sean Shanagher
(2014) Recreational Dance in Ireland 1940-1960: Politics and Pleasure. (PhD), Dublin City University,
Joanne Shanahan, Orfhlaith M Ní Bhriain, Meg E Morris, Daniele Volpe & Amanda M Clifford
(2016) Set dancing for people with Parkinson’s disease: an information resource for Irish set dancing teachers.
J. J. Sheehan
(1902) A Guide to Irish Dancing. Dublin and New York: John Denvir.
Michael Tubridy—Musician & dancer
(1998) A Selection of Irish Traditional Step dances. Dublin: Brooks Academy.
Assunta Uí Chathasaigh
(1988) A Collection of Traditional Sets of County Cork. Co. Cork: CCÉ.
Fintan Vallely (Ed.)
(2011) The Companion to Irish Traditional Music; second edition. Cork: Cork University Press.
Selected Books on Dance Research
Theresa J Buckland—Ethnochoreologist, dancer
(1983) Definitions of Folk Dance: Some Explorations in Folk Music Journal. EFDSS, 4(4).
(1990) Black Faces, Garlands, and Coconuts: Exotic Dances on Street and Stage. Dance Research Journal, 22(2), 1-12.
(1991) Institutions and Ideology in the Dissemination of Morris Dances in the Northwest of England. Yearbook for Traditional Music, 23, 53-67.
(1999) All Dances Are Ethnic, but Some Are More Ethnic Than Others: Some Observations on Dance Studies and Anthropology. Dance Research: The Journal of the Society for Dance Research, 17(1), 3-21.
(1999) [Re]Constructing Meanings: the Dance Ethnographer as Keeper of the Truth. In T.J. Buckland (Ed.), Dance in the Field: Theory, Methods and Issues in Dance Ethnography (pp. 196-207). London: MacMillan Press Ltd.
(2001) Dance, Authenticity and Cultural Memory: The Politics of Embodiment. Yearbook for Traditional Music, 33, 1-16.
(2001) Th’Owd Pagan Dance : Ritual, Enchantment, and an Enduring Intellectual Paradigm. JASHM, 11 & 12(4 & 1).
(2003) Edward Scott: The Last of the English Dancing Masters. Dance Research: The Journal of the Society for Dance Research, 21(2), 3-35.
(2006) Dance, History, and Ethnography: Frameworks, Sources, and Identities of Past and Present. In Theresa Buckland (Ed.), Dancing from Past to Present (pp. 9 – 24). US: University of Wisconsin Press.
(2011) Society Dancing: Fashionable Bodies in England, 1870-1920. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
Mats Nilsson—Ethnochoreologist, dancer
(2017) The Swedish Polska. Stockholm: Svenskt Musikarkiv / Musikverket.
Ellis A Rogers
(2002) Five Basic Quadrilles. Three French and Two Scottish Quadrilles of the early 19th century. Orpington: Ellis Rogers.
(2008 (2003)) The Quadrille (4 ed.). Orpington: C & E Rogers.
Judy Van Zile—Ethnochoreologist, dancer
(1999) Capturing the Dancing: Why and How? In Theresa J. Buckland (Ed.), Dance in the Field (pp. 85-99). London: Macmillan Press Ltd.
(2014) Susan Eike Spalding. Appalachian Dance: Creativity and Continuity in Six Communities. University of Illinois Press, Urbana.
(2016) Brian Seibert. What the Eyes Hears. A History of Tap Dancing. FSG Books, New York.
(1992) Mike Seeger. Talking Feet. Buck, Flatfoot and Tap. Solo Southern dance of the Appalachian, Piedmont and Blue Ridge Mountain Regions. North Atlantic Books, USA.
(2006) Joshua Dickson. When Piping was Strong. Tradition, Change and the Bagpipe in South Uist. John Donald Publishers: Edinburgh.
(1989) Margaret Bennett. The Last Stronghold. The Scottish Gaelic Traditions of Newfoundland. Breakwater Books.
(2015) Phil Jamison. Hoedowns, Reels and Frolics. Roots and Branches of Southern Appalachian Dance. University of Illinois Press: Urbana.
(2015) Liz Doherty. The Cape Breton Fiddle Companion. Cape Breton University Press.