Username: Jainemac
Why did you choose your username? It's my Mums name!
Name: Libby Maclean
Member since: 2008
Years Dancing: 3
Age: 9
Board: SOBHD
What tartan do you wear for your kilt, and is there a specific reason why you chose it? Purple Erskine because its purple! My favourite colour! I'm getting a burgundy Maclean Of Duart for my next kilt because its my family tartan!
Tell us a bit about your other costumes.
Do you wear a white dress or an Aboyne for nationals? White dress with purple Erskine plaid.
What colour is your jig dress? Green
What colour is your hornpipe outfit? Blue
What brand of Ghillies do you wear? Hullachans HSS.I like the padding inside and I like that you don’t have to tie the laces around your foot.
What is the name of your school and teacher? Christina Cairns school of Highland Dancing in Dunoon
How/when did you know you wanted to be a dancer? When we came to Scotland on holiday to the Cowal games and watched the world champion dancers!
Why did you choose highland? So I could dance at Cowal games!!
Do you take, or have you taken, any other forms of dance? Ballet when I was 3, but only did it for a year.
What makes you love Highland dance? I like wearing the kilt and the different outfits for the other dances! And I love getting trophies and medals, but I just love to dance!
If you could describe your dancing in only 1 word, what would it be? fantabulous!!
Do you compete? If so, what level are you in? Just finished novice, taking a break from competing till next year then I will be in Intermediate.
When is your next competition (if applicable)? Probably in March at the charity highland dancing comp, I have a trophy to return, so I hope I will get another one!
What has been your most memorable competition moment? Winning a trophy at Cowal two years in a row (beginners and novice).
What has been your most memorable non-competitive achievement? Dancing at my grandparent’s party in front of all their friends.
Do you remember your first competition and how you did there? It was 2 1/2 years ago and I only danced the fling and I fell over!!!
What do you enjoy most about competitions? I love it when my dancing teacher watches me at competitions. I like catching up with other dancing friends.
Do you have any superstitions? No!
What is the most difficult thing for you about Highland? Learning new steps
What's the easiest? The bow or the curtsey at the start and the end of the dance!!
What are your best and favourite steps? Last step in the lilt.
What are your worst and least favourite? Running step in the jig.
Anything you are still working on? Extended high cuts, leap and ..well everything!!
Do you ever feel the pressure to quit? absolutely NOT!
What are your favourite dances? Jig, Hornpipe, Highland Laddie, Lilt, Reel, Barracks, Seann T, Fling, Swords...everything really!
How often do you take class? 2 hours on a Monday evening and an hour private lesson later on in the week.
How frequently do you practice? Every day.
What do you generally work on when you practice on your own? extended high cuts and any new steps.
Do your friends and family support your dancing? Yes! My mum takes me to lots of competitions.
Do you hang out with your dance friends outside the studio? yes!
Approximately how many times per year does your dance school perform? Small groups of us dance at local hotels every week. Its great fun.
Does your school hold a recital? Yes.
If so, what does it generally consist of? .it's like a presentation night where we all get out certificates from our dancing exams and we perform for our families
Would you rather have a strict or an easy-going teacher? strict
How would you describe YOUR teacher? Nice and calm and just perfect really!
Who are your dance idols? Colleen Rintamaki, David Wilton. Courtney Cowden from my dance school and my teacher Mrs Cairns.
What has been your most embarrassing dance moment? When I fell flat on my bum in the fling at my first competition, but I jumped straight back up and carried on dancing. I hate stopping in the middle of dances, if I make a mistake I always try to carry on because its really embarrassing to just stand there whilst everyone else is dancing.
If someone completely unfamiliar with Highland dancing asked you why you did it, what would you tell them? Because it is fun, it keep you fit, you make loads of friends, travel to loads of different places and most of all because I love it!
May we have a peek inside your dance bag? Registration card, safety pins, tubigrip, first aid kit, scissors, sun cream, spare laces, hair stuff, grips, bands, bun ring spray etc note book and pen...pretty much everything! This is for competitions.
What other activities do you have besides dancing? Swimming, art and playing with my dog a fox red Labrador called Dexter.
Have you ever taken a break from dancing? Only when I had to! I had appendicitis in August and had to have my appendix out.
Have you ever had to overcome any problems to get to where you are today? Because I only started highland when we moved up to Scotland when I was 6 I felt I had a lot of catching up to do! And just getting over having my appendix out, I had key hole surgery and I managed to dance at Cowal less than 2 weeks afterwards!!
Describe your ideal dance class. Private lesson where my teacher tells me what I need to work on.
Do any of your dance friends/class mates go on DDN? Yes "Bramble" is my best dancing friend and lots of others.
What’s your biggest regret? Not being able to start dancing when I was younger!
If you were told you could no longer dance after today, what would you do? Scream and cry!
And how would you spend this last day? Dancing of course!
Thanks!
Catherine 
