dance/heritage

The Scots are coming! To be exact, we're talking about the Pipes, Drums and Highland Dancers of the famous Highland Battalion of the Black Watch (more than a very handsome dark plaid fabric). Some Welsh cousins are traveling with the Scots, the Prince of Wales' own Welsh Guards unit. In all 90 pipers, drummers and dancers will turn Verizon Hall into a bit of the auld countrie.

Not all Celtic dancing involves men with bare chests jumping through flaming hoops. But the Scottish highland flings, sword dances and jigs use the same upright body stance and lifted knee found in their Irish cousins' step dancing. Keep in mind, Highland dances are martial in origin and spirit and will be performed by battalion members who are real, honest-to-goodness serving members of the British Army (the Black Watch has members on duty in Iraq). This is the oldest and most famous of the Highland regiments, and not some folklore troupe dreamed up to entertain you.

Starting with an Opening Muster (expect fancy drum work and marching, plus a lot of kilts), the Black Watch will wander all over Scotland with Highland music and dancing, as well as some traditional music from the Lowlands. The Welsh Guard will add in some Irish music, and just to be fair, even some English stuff. But I bet when the show winds up with "Will Ye No' Come Back Again" and "Scotland the Brave" that there won't be a person in all of Verizon Hall who isn't claiming Scots ancestry.

The Black Watch, Sun., Jan. 15, 3 p.m., $33-$67, Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center, 300 S. Broad St., 215-893-1999.