‘Outlander’: Sam Heughan Explains Jamie Fraser’s Dance in Season 5, Episode 4
Outlander fans will get a treat when they see season five, episode 4. In this episode, Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan) does an interesting little dance. Why was Jamie dancing and what does his dance mean? Here’s what Heughan and Caitriona Balfe had to say about the unique dance.
What dance was Jamie Fraser doing?
The dance is called a Highland Fling, according to TV Line. It’s a dance Jamie did during a night of celebration with the members of his army. Heughan told the publication that Jamie did a sword dance in the book (and it was written this way in the script), but he preferred to do the Highland Fling. Here’s what Heughan said about the dance:
I wanted to do a Highland Fling, because I felt like we’d seen the sword dance in the show. Duncan [Lacroix] did a really great version of that [in season 1]. So actually, what I’m doing is the Highland Fling, which is a dance that they do around the battlefield. It’s all about kicking off the chains of the British, there’s this this sort of leg kick, and the hand [positions] are about the stag. It’s about prowess, but it has a message as well. It’s one of sort of rebellion, so I liked that.
What Caitriona Balfe thought of Sam Heughan’s dance
Co-star Caitriona Balfe says she laughed when she first saw Heughan perform the dance. “I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so much,” Balfe told Entertainment Tonight host Leanne Aguilera. “He took it very seriously. There was a lot of rehearsing going on. He’s very light on his feet.”
Sam Heughan says another reason for the dance is to show manliness
The Highland Fling looks like a joyful dance, but it’s a battlefield dance meant to show strength. Heughan tells Entertainment Tonight it’s a dance of not only defiance but also manliness. “[The dance was supposed to show] your manliness because you do it in the battlefield. You do it in front of [your enemies].” The actor says he had no problem doing the dance, but he felt a little nervous about dancing in front of Balfe.
How did Sam Heughan become famous?
Now that you know a little more about Jamie and his dancing, you might be curious about the man who brings Jamie to life each week. How did Sam Heughan become famous?
Heughan made his acting debut in the 2011 short film Small Moments. In 2004, he appeared in the television mini-series Island at War, in which he played the role of Philip Dorr. He appeared in another television mini-series the following year titled River City. He played the character Andrew Murray. Other acting credits include Doctors, First Light, and Homeland. Heughan has been playing Jamie Fraser on Outlander since 2014.
Read more: ‘Outlander’: 4 Things Caitriona Balfe Can’t Live Without
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