Seann Triubhas

The Seann Triubhas is a Highland Dance that is believed to have originated from the rebellion of 1745, when the British Government banned the Highlanders from wearing kilts. It is pronounced 'shenn troovass'.

During this rebellion, Bonnie Prince Charlie challenged the might of the British Government at Culloden. He lost the battle, and as a consequence the Highlanders were banned from wearing kilts. Kilts, along with bagpipes, were considered by the British as instruments of war. Without their kilts, they had to turn to wearing trousers. About thirty years later, the laws were repealed because of the tartan fabric fashion craze in London and the Highlanders were allowed to return to their original dress. The Seann Triubhas was created as a dance of celebration. The movements of the dance depict the legs defiantly shaking and shedding the hated trousers, to return to the freedom of the kilt. Some of these steps are believed to have originated from hard shoe dancing. "Seann Triubhas" is a Gaelic phrase which means "Old or Unwanted Trousers".

The first part of this dance depicts the dancer shedding the trousers, but this changes near the end. The dancer will clap, and this tells the bagpiper to speed up the music. The last steps look similar to the Highland Fling, and symbolize the joy of returning to the kilt.

Considering that tartan trews were part of the Highland wardrobe for chieftains and gentlemen whilst on horseback (the large Highland ponies) from the early 17th century onward, it is more likely that the 'Truibhas' in the dance represent English-style plain trousers (breeches), adopted under duress by Highlanders following the ban on their native Highland kilted dress effective from 1 August 1746 to its repeal on 1 July 1782.

The Seann Triubhas is now danced at most Highland Dance competitions around the world. Dancers usually start dancing it in the Beginner category at competitions, and continue to dance it up to Premier. This dance is also common in most Highland and Theory exams. Dancers wear the standard kilt outfit to perform this dance.