What is "Provincials" in Highland Dance?
And how does it work?
For Canadian highland dancers, highland dance provincials (also sometimes referred to as a “selection meet”, “provincial championships”, and others) is a highly-anticipated event.
Each year, competitive Premier dancers gather in each province to try and earn a spot on their provincial team.
We’ll be explaining what a championship actually is, what makes provincial championships so special, and what those who “make the team” actually earn.
How Does Highland Dance Work?
How Does Highland Dance Work?
This is part 1 of a three-part series we’re doing covering how the most elite competitions in the highland dance work. Check out part two and three, about the Canadian Championships and World Championships!
What is a Championship?
Let’s start with the basics.
There are a few different types of competition for highland dancers. Let’s take a brief review from our post: How Do Highland Dance Competitions Work?
Competition versus Championship
Competition
A “Competition” is what you’ll most often see offered as an event for dancers. These can be for Pre-Premier (Primary, Beginner, Novice, and Intermediate) dancers, AND for Premier dancers.
Competition organisers are able to select the dances for the event (within RSOBHD regulations).
These are judged by one judge, and overall trophies are awarded to dancers who accumulate the most points obtained through the dance events of the day.
These allow Pre-Premier competitors to move up through the categories.
Championships
Championships are only for Premier-level dancers, and competitors must dance the Highland dances (Fling, Sword, Seann Truibhas, and a Reel) with standard steps assigned by the Royal Scottish Official Board of Highland Dance (RSOBHD) for that year.
3 judges are needed for championships, and scores are calculated collectively from the three judges in order to award placings.
What is the Difference Between Open and Closed Championships?
Wait, there’s more?
Stick with us!
Whether a championship is “open” or “closed” defines who is permitted to register and compete.
Open Championships
Competitors residing outside the area named in the championship title may compete (i.e.: dancers from around the world may compete in the Canadian Open Championships).
Closed Championships
Competitors must qualify by birth or residency in order to compete in the event (i.e.: the Canadian Closed Championship is closed to dancers outside of Canada – more on that later).
Provincials are always closed championships.
Each province hosts their own provincial closed championship (as long as they have enough dancers), and dancers must compete in the province where they’re from or where they have lived for at least 6 months.
What are Dancers Competing For?
The whole reason we have provincial championships is to decide our provincial teams.
At the ScotDance Canada Championship Series (SDCCS) each summer, the main event is the Closed Canadian Championships. This prestigious competition decides the best dancers in the country. So many dancers covet the title of “Canadian Champion”, but in order to get on that national stage, dancers must earn a spot on their provincial team.
At the Closed Canadian Championship, only 3* dancers from each province may compete in each age category. So, New Brunswick will send 3 representatives for the 16 and under 18 category, and those dancers will compete against the 3 representatives each from Nova Scotia, Ontario, Alberta, and so on.
So, at our Closed Provincial Championship, the top 3* dancers from each category earn a spot on the team.
*One exception to the rule of 3 dancers is having a “bye”. The previous year’s 7 Canadian Champions each automatically have a spot on their provincial team. Only their age category at their provincials will then have an additional representative to add to their team. For example, the 2023 Canadian Champion in the 16 and under 18 category was Annalise Lam from British Colombia. So in 2024, her age category at BC provincials will take 4 dancers to the Canadian Championship.
Age Categories at Provincials
At each provincial championship, dancers compete in the following age categories:
- 7 and under 10
- 10 and under 12
- 12 and under 14
- 14 and under 16
- 16 and under 18
- 18 and under 21
- 21 and over
Groups must have at least six dancers competing in them to actually be a “championship group”. If a group at provincials has less than six dancers registered, the dancers will still be able to compete and earn a spot on the team, but the top dancer will be considered the “winner” rather than the “champion”. Clear as mud?
What Comes Next?
When the provincial championship has been completed, and dancers have been given their awards, the celebrations and preparations can begin.
This varies by province, but there is typically a celebration for competitors and/or successful provincial representatives. Reps are given sashes to wear at the SDCCS opening ceremonies and banquet. Teams may also do group fundraising efforts to fund their trips to SDCCS. Each province also has matching team jackets which representatives can now wear in pride!
Highland dance isn’t exactly like other sports where you make the provincial team, and then you start practicing together and building a team bond.
Nope – in highland, it’s typically business as usual. Dancers will continue to ramp up their individual training in anticipation of the Closed Canadian Championships.
How do Canadians and Worlds Work?
This is part 1 of a three-part series we’re doing covering how the most elite competitions in the highland dance work. Check out part two and three, about the Canadian Championships and World Championships!
