SDTA Professional Exams

Contact Us

Championship Steps

Class Schedule

Downloads

Events

Instructors

Links

Medal Tests

News & Information

Photo Gallery

Results

Members Only

Home

Medal Tests

Highland

National

Jig & Hornpipe

Theory

Professional

ASSOCIATE

Applicants for this exam must be 17 years or older.

Positions of the feet

Positions of the arms

Grouping of the fingers

Positions of the head

Bow, hop, spring, shedding, round-the-leg, back stepping, toe-and-heel, heel-and-toe, shake (for Fling and Seann Triubhas), rock, pas de basque, open pas de basque, spring point, assemble, disassemble, high cut, change, leap, brush, shuffle, balance, travelling balance, pivot turn, step, hop brush beat beat, shake shake down, progressive strathspey, progressive reel, high cut in front, propelled pivot turn

Highland Fling

Introduction, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th, Finish

Sword Dance

Introduction, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 7th, 8th, Finish

Seann Triubhas

Introduction, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th alt, 8th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, Finish

Strathspey

Introduction, Figure of Eight, how the following Fling steps are adapted: 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th

Highland Reel

Figure of Eight and finish

Basic Reel Steps

2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th

SECTION 2:  MUSICAL KNOWLEDGE

Candidates will be required to count and clap in Single Beat Rhythm, Perfect Half Beat Rhythm and both types of Imperfect Half Beat Rhythm and demonstrate the application of those rhythms to counting of steps in highland dancing

SECTION 3:  DANCES

Candidates will be required to give practical demonstrations of the following Highland Dances:

    Highland Fling (6 steps)

    Sword Dance (3 & 1)

    Seann Triubhas (4 & 2)

    Strathspey & Highland Reel (2 & 2)

MEMBER

Applicants for this exam must be 21 years or older and must have had two years teaching experience in the Brach for which the application is being made OR have held Associateship in the SDTA and had two years teaching experience.

As for Associate

As for Associate

As for Associate, plus the following (including a good knowledge of all alternative methods):

Highland Fling

5th, 7th alt

Sword Dance

5th, 6th 

Seann Triubhas

6th, 7th, 9th, 14th, 15th

Strathspey

Candidates should know which Highland Fling steps are used for setting and should be able to demonstrate and explain how they are adapted to this purpose.

Basic Reel Steps

4th, 7th, 8th, 10th

Reel of Tulloch

Candidates should be able to describe the figuration of this dance and how it is commenced (a) when preceded by the Strathspey and (b) when performed as a separate dance.  They should also know first and last setting steps and the Finish

SECTION 2:  MUSICAL KNOWLEDGE

Candidates should have a knowledge of the rudiments of music and should fully understand the following musical terms: Beat, Bar, Time, Tempy rhythm and Time signature.  They should also have an elementary knowledge of staff notation.

Rhythm - Candidates should be able to explain and apply the following standard rhythms used when counting movements and steps in Highland dancing, also counting in beats and bars:

    (a)    Single beat rhythm

    (b)    Perfect half beat rhythm

    (c)    Imperfect half beat rhythm

    (d)    Quadruple or quarter beat rhythm.

SECTION 3:  DANCES

Candidates will be required to give practical demonstrations of the following Highland Dances:

    Highland Fling (6 steps)

    Sword Dance (3 & 1)

    Seann Triubhas (4 & 2)

    Strathspey & Half Tulloch (2 & 4)

FELLOW

Applicants for this exam must have held the status of Member in the Branch for not less than three years.  Applicants must be 23 years or over.  Candidates will be examined on Highland, Scottish National, Irish Jig and Sailor's Hornpipe technique.

SECTION 1:  TECHNIQUE

As for Member but candidates will be expected to have a deeper knowledge of the technique for all Basic Positions and Basic Movements.  Furthermore, candidates should be able to demonstrate and describe any recognized alternative method or methods of executing any Basic Step, Introduction or Finish. The same applies to Scottish National Dances, Sailor's Hornpipe and Irish Jig.

SECTION 2:  MUSICAL KNOWLEDGE

As for Member

SECTION 3:  DANCES

This section will not be taken separately.  The candidate's dancing ability will be taken in to consideration when demonstrating the work in Section 1.