Dress Code & Choreography Rules
(from SOBHD)

Male Highland
Male Highland - pre-premier
Female Highland
Female Highland - pre-premier
Male National
Female National - Type 1
Female National - Type 2
Male Jig
Female Jig
Sailors Hornpipe
Choreography Rules

Male Highland

• Jacket: May be of velvet or cloth, in any color and any recognized style of doublet, e.g. Prince Charlie, Montrose.
• Waistcoat: May be worn with Prince Charlie jacket.
• Cummerbund: Black or to match the kilt may be worn in place of a waistcoat.
• Kilt: Any Clan, Family or District Tartan is acceptable. The length of the kilt is to the top of the knee. A kilt pin may be worn.
• Trews: May be worn for Seann Triubhas.
• Hose: Full tartan hose or military diced hose to match the kilt e.g. Blue/White etc.
• Garter Flashes: To tone with the kilt are optional.
• Sporran: Evening pattern with plated metal top or leather to be worn.
• Waist Belt: Leather with plated metal buckle may be worn, but not worn with a waistcoat.
• Head Dress: Balmoral must be worn with appropriate crest and/or badge. Feathers should NOT be worn.
• Plaid: A belted plaid may be worn with the jacket.
• Shirt: A white shirt and bow tie should be worn with the Prince Charlie jacket.
• Jabot: Should be white lace worn only with Montrose Jacket.
• Sleeve Ruffles: May be worn in conjunction with a lace jabot but must be attached to the sleeve of the jacket.
• Footwear: Black highland dancing pumps.
• Sgian Dubh: Should not be worn whilst dancing.
• Underwear: Dark or toning with the kilt should be worn but not white.
• NOTE: The above dress excludes competitors from H M Forces provided they are wearing regulation military dress.
  

Male Highland - pre-premier
(This costume may be worn by Pre-Premier dancers only)

• Jacket and/or Waistcoat: Day wear style, in lovat cloth or other types of tweed OR may be of velvet or cloth, in any color and any recognised style of doublet, e.g. Prince Charlie, Montrose.
• Waistcoat: May be worn with Prince Charlie jacket.
• Kilt: Any Clan, Family or District Tartan is acceptable. The length of the kilt is to the top of the knee. A kilt pin may be worn.
• Hose: Plain to tone with kilt or natural or Full tartan hose or military diced hose to match the kilt e.g. Blue/White etc.
• Garter Flashes: To tone with the kilt are optional.
• Sporran: Evening pattern with plated metal top or leather to be worn.
• Shirt and tie: A white shirt and tie may be worn without the jacket and/or waistcoat.
• Head Dress: None OR Balmoral with appropriate crest and/or badge. Feathers should NOT be worn.
• Footwear: Black highland dancing pumps.
• Underwear: Dark or toning with the kilt should be worn but not white.
  

Female Highland

• Jacket or Waistcoat to be worn.
• Jacket: Black or colored velvet. Close fitting at the waist and hips, fastened down the front, with basque having two points in front and one at back, sides are more slightly curved. The jacket is trimmed around the edges with a single row of 1/2 inch silver or gold braid. The length depends on the physique of the dancer. The facings have a single row of not more than five ornamental Scottish embossed buttons on each side. A lace trim at back of neck is optional. The full length sleeves may have a single row of not more than five silver or gold buttons at the vent. If desired, ruffles (not more than 1 inch in depth) may be worn at the wrist, but they must be fastened to the sleeve. The front edges of the jacket are boned from the waist up, elastic loops are fitted inside to fasten the top of the kilt in order to prevent the jacket from rising when the arms are raised. A sleeveless blouse with lace front or a lace insert to be worn. The lace frills should be visible.
• Waistcoat: Similar to the jacket as described above but with no sleeves, there being no braid around the armholes.
• White Blouse: Full sleeves to the elbow with a lace ornamented front. An upright stiff half inch lace trim may be attached to the back of the neck of the blouse.
• Kilt: Any Clan, Family or District tartan is acceptable. It should reach to the top of the knee.
• Hose: Full clan tartan hose to match the kilt.
• Underwear: Dark or toning with the kilt should be worn but not white.
• Hair: No visible hair adornments.
• Footwear: Black Highland dancing pumps.

Note: The following SHOULD NOT BE WORN: Underskirt, Sporran, Garter flashes, Plaid, Waistbelt, Sgian Dhub, Kilt Pin or other ornaments of any description.

Female Highland - pre-premier
(May be worn by Pre-Premier dancers only)

• Kilt: Any Clan, Family or District tartan is acceptable. It should reach to the top of the knee.
• White Blouse: Full sleeves to the elbow with a lace ornamented front. An upright stiff half inch lace trim may be attached to the back of the neck of the blouse, or plain white shirt worn with or without a tie.
• Hose: Full clan tartan hose to match the kilt or white knee high length.
  

Male National

• Trews: Male dancers may wear tartan trews instead of kilt for National dances.
  

Female National - Type 1

• Skirt: To be a tartan or similar design in cloth, not necessarily worsted and should be gathered not circular. Length should be to the knee. Taffeta, satin and lurex are not acceptable.
• White Blouse: Full sleeves to the elbow with NO FRILLS. No more than four very small tartan bows, on each sleeve, may be worn. The location of the bows are optional. Frills on front of blouse are not acceptable.
• Underskirt: White cotton with no adornments. A lace edging is acceptable provided it is cotton.
• Bodice: Velvet, waist length, laced up the front and scalloped or petal design all the way round. With or without ornamental buttons and narrow braid round the scallops.
• Plaid: Square or rectangular pleated, fastened to the right shoulder with a Scottish brooch. The plaid should be attached to the waist at the back.
• Socks: White without frills, ankle or knee high or natural tights may be worn.
• Hair style: Optional.
• Underwear: White.
  

Female National - Type 2

• Dress: A white dress with a tartan plaid (square or rectangular pleated, fastened to the right shoulder with a Scottish brooch. The plaid should be attached to the waist at the back). The skirt should be worn to the top of the knee and may be circular.
  

Male Jig

• Tail Coat: In red or green.
• Waistcoat: In red or green in opposite color to that of the coat.
• Trousers: Knee breeches preferably in brown or khaki corduroy or whipcord, slack below knees as per description in the book.
• Socks: Long red or green.
• Muffler: Red or green neckerchief.
• Paddy Hat: A traditional country Irish hat.
• Shillelagh: Weight 3-4 lbs.
• Footwear: Black, red or green Irish Jig shoes.
  

Female Jig

• Dress: White, red or green. White dress should be worn with waistcoat type bodice.
• Bodice: Same shape as for Nationals, either red or green.
• White Blouse: To be worn if dress is sleeveless.
• Skirt: Red or green to be worn with white blouse and waistcoat type bodice also in red or green. The length same as for Nationals.
• Cummerbund: Red or green, may be worn but not in conjunction with a waistcoat.
• Length: One to two inches above the knee for juveniles. Adult dancers may prefer a longer skirt.
• Apron: A small white apron will work with any of the options described above. A small shamrock will be permitted.
• Underskirt: White only and preferably of cotton. These are not lifted during the dance and all 'flouncing' movements are done with the skirt of the dress.
• Socks: Plain white or natural colored tights may be worn.
• Hair: A plain ribbon may be worn.
• Footwear: Black, red or green Irish Jig shoes.

NOTE: The dress is usually made of cotton or similar material. Lurex fabrics should not be used. Additionally, sequins or similar ornamentation are not acceptable.

Sailors Hornpipe

• Jumper: To be made of navy blue material (serge or twill) or white drill, shaped to the body and with set in sleeves. V neck front opening with double thickness collar attached. The bottom of the jumper should be in line with the fork and the sleeves to extend to the wrist bone. The sleeves may be buttoned but stripes are not acceptable.
• Trousers: To be made of the same material and to be the same color as the jumper. Bell-bottomed style, the circumference of the trouser bottoms to be two or three inches wider than the circumference of the knee. Trouser bottoms to be plain.
• Vest: To be white drill with square neck and bound with navy binding.
• Cap: Regulation white or navy blue with circular crown. The cap should not have name bands.
• Collar: Navy or blue denim with three white stripes. Should be worn with either navy or white suit. Black ribbon, tied in a Bow, may be worn.
• Socks: Plain white or navy.
  

Choreography Rules

1. A group choreography competition is open to registered dancers, the age groups to be set by the organizer.
2. Content should consist primarily of movements from Highland, National, Hornpipe and Jig books.
3. A maximum of five minutes time limit should be set to include entrance and exit of competitors and setting up and removal of props.
4. Teams may use props during their performance, either static or non-static, but live animals are not permitted.
5. A minimum of three and a maximum number to be set by the organizer.
6. Music may be live or pre-recorded and may include vocal or percussion selections, but in all cases must be predominantly Scottish or Celtic in style. Music may be provided by the competition organizer.
7. Costumes must follow the theme and content.
8. Judges must be from the current SOBHD, ABHDI or OBHD, SA Judges Panel. The number of judges must be one or three to comply with the current scrutineering system. A total mark should be awarded. No separate prizes for costumes, etc.
9. Teams should consist of:
   a) one school only
   b) more than one school, in which case, the teacher/choreographer must abide by the three month teaching/judging rule.

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