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The Highland dancing is complex and very technical (and exhausting - it's all danced on half point and you never really come down, lots of changes in the air). I retired from that long ago, except for an occasional burst of exuberance in the middle of the eightsome reel. I do still do the Sword Dance (Gille Calum) occasionally because I like it so much, but if I do more than 2 and 1 I get very out of breath.

Scottish Country Dancing is much more fun and more accessible for everybody. The steps are not as complicated, and there are plenty of slow and easy dances for the beginner. At most Highland Games the SCDers invite passersby onto the platform for a simple dance every 4-5 dances or so. Of course, then the hard core folks get up and do something scary like "Irish Rover" ("reel, dammit, reel!"). Demolition Derby! :-D

While I suspected it was more different than it appeared, I didn't realize it was that hard.

I guess I wouldn't be allowed to do it anyway since I am more Irish and English than Scot.