The Highland South African Championships 2013

The annual Highland Dancing South African Championships is here. Saturday is the day, can you believe it?. It is absolutely incredible how quickly the 2013 Highland Dancing season has flown by.

When: Saturday, 27 July 2013

Where: Benoni High School, Benoni, Johannesburg

Time: 9:00am for the dancing and 10am for the Pipe Bands

This is the final competition of the highland dancing and pipe band season in South Africa for this year so it will undoubtably be the best and most challenging competition yet. Good Luck to all competitors, both dancers and bandsmen. And if you were wanting to come watch a competition this year, the is your last and best shot at seeing South Africa’s Scottish talent at its best.

See everyone there:)

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NOTE: this is, not by far, the end of the Scottish Communities calendar. The rest of the year will be packed with other events such dancers and pipe bands traveling overseas to compete in the World Championships in Scotland in August; The South African Tattoo happening in September at Monte Casino; pipe band solo competitions; The International Highland Dancing Conference taking place at Monte Casino in October; Choreography competitions and so much more. So please stay tuned to the blog and Facebook page for more details

SA Tattoo 2012

South African Tattoo 2012:

7-9 September 2012 were special days in Johannesburg, when the talented performers took to the SA Tattoo esplanade to show South Africa the vast variety of entertainment that our people have to offer.

This year the Tattoo exhibited the Massed Pipes and Drums, Highland Dancers accompanied by Haggis and Bong, Air Force Band, Irish Dancers, Harley Davidson Display team, SA Military Health Services and SA Army Pace Sticks Team. The International act of the show was the exciting Talenhodest Gym Team from Denmark.

One of the O’Leary Studio dancers, Caylee O’Leary, took part in this magical event. Unfortunately she wasn’t one of the Highland Dancers who accompanied Haggis and Bong, but was part of the Massed Pipes and Drums as one of the Pretoria Caledonia drummers.

Pretoria Caledonia Pipe Band were joined in the Massed Pipes and Drums by the Transvaal Scottish Regiment Pipe Band, The African Skye Pipe Band, Glen Allen Pipe Band, The SA Irish Regiment Pipe Band and Sandton Scottish Pipe Band.

The Massed Pipes and Drums played Meeting of the Waters, Highland Cradle Song and Glasgow week in Hamburg for the March On. Highland Cradle Song is a Slow March so the Massed Pipes and Drums had the challenge of slow marching, playing and trying to keep upright at the same time.

For the formation they played All the Blue Bonnets over the Border, Glendaural Highlanders, Molly Connell, Castle Rock Celeidh, Paddy’s Epic Journey, Erin Shore, Clocks and The Final Fling. In celebration of the Transvaal Scottish Regiment’s 110 anniversary, the Pipers formed the shape of  the number 110.

The March Off tune was Atholl Highlanders, the Transvaal Scottish Regiment’s regimental march (song, tune?).

The Finale held some very special moments with songs such as Wheeping, Celtic Crest, The National Anthem, Highland Cathedral and the inspiring Jurassic Park Theme Tune.

For some awesome Photos of the Tattoo visit Sandra Roniger’s Facebook Album titled South African Tattoo.

YouTube Clips:

• City Press Online: SA Tattoo 2012
• 2012 South African Tattoo – South African Flag
• 2012 South African Tattoo – Irish Dancing with music provided by Haggis and Bong – Please note that this is not Irish Dancing, it is Highland Dancing
• 2012 South African Tattoo: Finale
• SA Tattoo Harley Davidson Display Team