Medal Testing 

Medal Tests are a form of optional adjudication that many dancers participate in on an annual basis in addition to or instead of competing. These tests provide dancers with an opportunity to be evaluated individually by a high-level Highland judge against a set standard and are given a written evaluation of their performance as well as medals and trophies. At each level, the dancers are expected to be able to perform certain steps or movements to a particular degree of ability. A dancer may test in Highland, National, or Character dances, and may take grade theory tests in preparation to becoming a teacher and to qualify for scholarships.

Highland Exams

First Steps

  • Positions of the Feet and Arms, Basic Movements

Pre-Bronze

  • Highland Fling or Sword Dance, Basic Movements

Bronze

  • Highland Fling, Sword Dance

Silver

  • Highland Fling, Sword Dance, Seann Triubhas

Pre-Gold

  • Highland Fling, Sword Dance, Seann Triubhas, Half Tulloch

Gold

  • Highland Fling, Sword Dance, Seann Triubhas, Strathspey & Half Tulloch

Blue Riband

  • Highland Fling, Sword Dance, Seann Triubhas, Strathspey & Half Tulloch

British Medallion

  • Highland Fling, Sword Dance, Seann Triubhas, Strathspey & Half Tulloch

British Award

  • Highland Fling, Sword Dance, Seann Triubhas, Strathspey & Highland Reel

Premier Award

  • Highland Fling, Sword Dance, Seann Triubhas, Hullachan

Annual Award

  • Current Championship Steps

National Exams

Pre-Bronze

  • Flora, Lilt

Bronze

  • Flora, Lilt

Silver

  • Flora, Lilt, Johnnie

Gold

  • Lilt, Laddie, Johnnie

Blue Riband

  • Scottish Lilt, Village Maid, Laddie

1st Award

  • Laddie, Blue Bonnets, Village Maid

British Medallion

  • Blue Bonnets, Earl, Johnnie

2nd Award

  • Earl, Scotch Measure, Lilt

British Award

  • Johnnie, Scotch Measure, Village Maid

3rd Award

  • Blue Bonnets, Earl, candidate to choose 1 dance

Premier Award

  • Blue Bonnets, Earl, Scotch Measure

Annual Award

  • As for Premier Award but a higher standard of work is required

Hornpipe & Jig Exams

Pre-Bronze, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Blue Riband, 1st Award, 2nd Award, 3rd Award

Grade Theory Exams

Pre-Primary (Demonstrate the following)

Basic Movements:

Bow (6 counts), 8 Pas de Basque, 8 Spring Points, 8 Springs from foot to foot, 8 Shedding, 8 Toe & Heel

Positions of the Feet - 1st, 2nd, 3rd

Positions of the Arms - 1st, 2nd

Primary (Demonstrate the following)

Basic Movements:

Bow, Hop, Round-the-leg, Shedding, Toe & Heel, Pas de Basque, Spring Points, High Cuts

5 Positions of the Feet

Five Positions of the Arms

Positions of the Head

Fling or Sword

Grade 1 (Demonstrate the following)

Basic Movements:

Bow, Hop, Spring, Round-the-leg, Shedding, Toe & Heel, Pas de Basque, Spring Points, Rock, Open Pas de Basque, High Cut

Five Positions of the Feet

Five Positions of the Arms

Positions of the Head

Grouping of the Fingers

Fling and Sword

Grade 2 (Describe, demonstrate, and count the following)

Basic Movements:

Bow, Hop, Spring, Round-the-leg, Shedding, Toe & Heel, Pas de Basque, Spring Points, Rock, Open Pas de Basque, High Cut

Five Positions of the Feet

Five Positions of the Arms

Positions of the Head

Grouping of the Fingers

Fling, Sword, and Seann Triubhas

Grade 3 (Describe, demonstrate, and count the following)

Basic Movements:

Assemble, Disassemble, Shake for Highland Fling, Step, Back-Step, Change, Leap

As for Grade 2, with the addition of Aerial, Intermediate, and Rear positions.

Fling, Sword, Seann Triubhas, Half Tulloch