Highland dancing competition unable to go ahead this year
26 Jun 24
by Nathon Jones
Highland dancing competition in 2023.
It is with a heavy heart that we announce the postponement of this year's Highland dancing competition at Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival. Continued funding cuts have meant some very difficult decisions have had to be made, however we do hope to bring this back in 2025.
The festival, in partnership with local dance tutor Paula Davies and her incredible local students, friends, families and helpers, has hosted a Highland dancing competition, overseen by the Royal Scottish Board of Highland Dancing, since 2018 and at one stage was welcoming 50+ competitors to Newton Stewart every year for what was the biggest Highland dancing competition in Southwest Scotland.
Project Co-ordinator Nathon Jones said "One of the main aims of Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival is to encourage and support young people's involvement in the important traditions and culture of Scotland and the Highland dancing competition was a prime example of that, with young dancers from across the country, and abroad, travelling to Minnigaff to take part. It also gave local dancers the opportunity to compete, professionally, without having to travel long distances to get to other nationally recognised events."
"We're absolutely gutted not to be able to go ahead this year, but will do everything we can to bring this event back to the festival next year."
Highland Dancing Competition