Dance Legacies of Scotland compiles a collage of references portraying percussive Scottish
dancing and explains what influenced a wide disappearance of hard-shoe steps from
contemporary Scottish practices. Mats Melin and Jennifer Schoonover explore the historical
references describing percussive dancing to illustrate how widespread the practice was,
giving some glimpses of what it looked and sounded like. The authors also explain what
influenced a wide disappearance of hard-shoe steps from Scottish dancing practices. Their …

This important and timely publication addresses intriguing and long-unanswered questions
concerning historical and recent practices of percussive step-dancing in Scotland. Central to
the study is the issue of why, since the earlier twentieth century, this nation's dancing has
predominantly been characterized in a light, almost soundless, balletic style. The pointed
toes, turned-out legs, and arm gestures familiar from Scottish Highland and Country dancing
appear quite alien to other folk dancing of the British Isles.Co-authors Mats Melin and …