Scottish Country Dance of the Day

In colonial America, dancing was far more than entertainment—it was an essential part of social life. Public balls, tavern gatherings, military celebrations, and private plantation assemblies all featured dancing, bringing together neighbors, friends, and prospective spouses. Even political and business relationships were often strengthened on the dance floor.

Among the most popular dances were the elegant minuet, often used to open a formal ball; the lively English country dance, where couples progressed through long sets; the fashionable cotillion, introduced to America around 1770; spirited Scottish reels, whose simple figures made them favorites at informal gatherings; and energetic jigs and hornpipes, which showcased an individual's skill and flair. Many of these dances remain familiar today to Scottish country dancers.

George Washington himself was an enthusiastic dancer, calling dancing "so agreeable and innocent an amusement." Contemporary accounts describe him as an accomplished and graceful performer who regularly opened balls with a minuet before joining everyone else in country dances, cotillions, and reels. His participation reflected the importance of dancing in colonial society, where good manners, confidence, and skill on the dance floor were considered marks of refinement.

Scottish influences were especially strong in the colonies, where reels and other dances from Scotland mingled naturally with English country dances and French fashions. By the time of the American Revolution, many of the Founding Fathers—and almost certainly many ordinary colonists—would have been quite familiar with the lively reels and longways dances that still delight Scottish country dancers today.

For more on George Washington's dancing career, click the painting of The Republican Court (Lady Washington's Reception Day), by Daniel Huntington, 1861.