An event dubbed the most prominent highland games in the world, the Braemar Gathering in Scotland, will include a touch of Ashburton this year.
Award winning Ashburton highland dancer Britney Moore will be among those taking to the stage at the event this weekend.
The 23-year-old is a remedial massage therapist in Christchurch. Her attendance at the games is part of a five-month backpacking trip around 11 European countries.
‘‘When I knew I was going to be in Scotland, I knew that I had to apply. Braemar takes 20 dancers in the open board from around the Commonwealth.
“You have to basically submit a CV with your dancing achievements over the previous 12 months. I was very privileged to be selected,’’ Moore said.
‘‘I am spending around a month in Scotland dancing, exploring my roots and immersing myself in my Scottish heritage,’’ she said.
‘‘The New Zealand style of highland dancing is slightly different than the traditional Scottish Board so there is only certain open competitions that I can compete in, while in Scotland. One of those is Braemar.’’
The Braemar Gathering is always held on the first Saturday in September at The Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, Scotland.
Braemar is near the Balmoral Castle and is always attended by members of the Royal Family. In the past this always included the Queen, whose favourite dance was the sword dance.
‘‘King Charles is a patron of the event so we are hopeful that he will be present,’’ Moore said.
Moore will be competing in a one-day highland dancing competition in four events, the Fling, Sword, Seann Truibhas and Sailors Hornpipe dances at the Braemar highland games. Dancing is a family tradition for Britney Moore.
She said the hat she wears for her favourite dance, the Sailor’s Hornpipe is steeped in history. The hat has been worn by Moore’s nana Sheilagh Moore Briggs, aunts, great aunts, a cousin and her sister.
‘‘I love watching the Sailor’s Hornpipe as well as performing it, as it is such a high intensity dance and the variety of steps makes it very interesting to watch.’’
Moore has been dancing for 20 years.
‘‘I had already been around dancing before I was three, watching my cousin Sarah dance and sometimes even picking her up from lessons.
‘‘I have put a lot of time and effort into dancing to get where I am today. Julie Hawke my dancing teacher has been the main reason for that. But it is also definitely just because I have such a love and passion for it.
‘‘When I was growing up I always looked up to and aspired to be like the older dancers at my dance school Sarah Gluyas and Lewis Gibson.’’
