Editing Scottish country dance (section)

===Steps and technique===
Unlike [[Cèilidh]] dancing or [[English country dance|English country dancing]], which are usually done using walking or running steps, Scottish country dancing uses different steps according to a dance's choreography. ''Travelling steps'' include the ''skip-change of step'' in quick-time dances and the ''Strathspey travelling step'' in strathspey time, while ''setting steps'' include the ''pas de basque'' in quick time and the ''common schottische''/''Strathspey setting step'' in strathspey time. Some dances also involve setting steps from [[Scottish Highland dance|Highland dancing]], such as the ''rocking step'', ''high cuts'', or ''Highland schottische''. In quick time, there is also the ''slip step'' for quick sideways movement, e.g. in circles.

In SCD classes there is often a certain focus on "correct technique", this applies especially to footwork and the positions of the feet at various points during the steps. Well-executed steps improve the look of a dance greatly, however their mastery involves quite some time and dedication and also a certain level of physical fitness.  This does not mean a segregation of dancers is necessary, though segregation can emerge due to the social nature of the dance. In many places the main object of SCD is having fun, with or without the requirement for good footwork, in other places there is a preference for only those dancers with better footwork to join the dance.  This is most prevalent in demonstration level classes and performances where the goal is to impress the audience.

A much more important aspect of good SCD technique is for a dancer to ensure that they are at the proper location at the proper time. This is important because the figures often require many of the participants to be correctly positioned; it is difficult for the whole set to achieve the dance if some dancers are mislocated. "Phrasing" is the execution of figures appropriately timed to the music. "Covering", another common term, calls for moving dancers to progress in unison; this briefly forms lines, squares etc. which are clearly visible to the audience watching a dance (and often to the dancers themselves). Many SCD groups like putting on demonstrations to display the best dancing ability of the group.

Principally SCD is a [[social dance]] and very much a team effort. Interaction with a partner and the other dancers (e.g. smiling, verbal cues, giving hands, encouragement) is an essential part of SCD. The importance of couples within this framework, the practice for correcting mistakes, the acceptance of embellishments, and the tolerance for differing choreography varies by SCD community and occasion.  These differences are largely viewed as generating a healthy dialogue between communities.