Competitors in the Scottish Sword Dance competition during the 2022 Drumtochty Highland Games. These were held in the grounds of Drumtochty Castle, Auchenblae, Kincardineshire, Scotland on 25th June 2022. The competitors are all champion Highland Dancers, Molly Smith on the left, Laura Smith in the centre and Rachael Walker on the right.
The Sword Dance or 'Ghillie Callum' is an ancient dance of war of the Scottish Gael, said to date back to King Malcolm Canmore (Shakespear’s MacBeth). Malcolm Canmore, King of Scotland, fought a battle near Dunsinane against one of Macbeth’s chiefs in 1054 and either he or a Celtic Price then danced over the crossed swords in victory. However, it is also said that the Sword Dance was danced by warriors prior to battle.
