|
Meet Our School Dance Teachers, Associate Teachers and Class Assistants
Click on the name of our dance school teachers to view their profiles or scroll down the page
|
Alison Dougan
(nee Jenkins)
|
Age Started Highland Dancing
|
4 Years Old
|
Reason For Starting Highland Dancing
|
My older cousin Jane was a Highland Dancer and I always wanted to go along to classes with her when I was young.
|
Favorite Dance
|
The Irish Jig as you can really let your hair down!
|
Favorite Competition
|
Airth Games as it's our local competition and is always well attended by family and friends.
|
Highlight of Dancing Career
|
Seeing my daughter Anna winning her first medal last year.
|
Funniest Dancing Moment
|
Performing on stage in France and only afterwards realising that I had danced without a vital part of my costume - I won't say which part...but we won first prize!
|
Kilt Tartan
|
Dress Red Cunningham (if I could fit into it!)
|
What Do You Enjoy About Teaching?
|
You get such satisfaction from seeing the dancers achievements.
|
Other Hobbies / Interests
|
Being a busy mum of two, eating and paragliding (one of these is a lie)
|
|
Laura Collister
(nee Jenkins)
|
Age Started Highland Dancing
|
6 Years Old
|
Reason For Starting Highland Dancing
|
My big sister Alison had been dancing for years and I just decided to give it a try!
|
Favorite Dance
|
I enjoyed dancing all the Highland Dances (yeah, even the Swords!). My favorite dance to teach is the Swords, as it is the biggest challenge for Beginners and they are always so happy when they finally master it!
|
Favorite Competition
|
I always look forward to Airth Highland Games, as our dancers are always well supported by friends and family. As a dancer I enjoyed dancing at the City of Edinburgh Championships in Portobello Town Hall.
|
Highlight of Dancing Career
|
Every overseas trip is a highlight, as our pupils are always a credit to our class. Each time I see the girls dance for a foreign crowd I feel a great sense of pride!
|
Funniest Dancing Moment
|
It is difficult to select a particular moment, as our dancing mums have given us so many funny moments over the years..luckily for them, I'm not going to go into details here. All I'll say is "where's the beach?".
|
Kilt Tartan
|
My last kilt was the Dress Earl of Skye. It is now being worn by one of my pupils, who not only looks better in it, but dances better in it too!!!!
|
What Do You Enjoy About Teaching?
|
I enjoy the satisfaction you get every time a pupil learns a new movement / step / dance, and they work hard to perfect it.
|
Other Hobbies / Interests
|
Between looking after Eva and teaching, I don't have much spare time at the moment so any time I do have, I enjoy chilling out at home!
|
|
Kristen Leadbetter
(nee Gardiner)
|
Age Started Highland Dancing
|
6 Years Old
|
Reason For Starting Highland Dancing
|
I always wanted to dance and heard at School about Highland Dancing. I asked my Mum to take me and I haven't stopped!
|
Favorite Dance
|
I love the Sailors Hornpipe as the steps are lovely to watch and dance, and it is very energetic.
|
Favorite Competition
|
Airth Highland Games as it was my first competition 15 years ago. I won my first medal - a 2nd Place!
|
Highlight of Dancing Career
|
Going on dance trips with the girls - Learning about different cultures and making new friends.
|
Funniest Dancing Moment
|
I kicked my Swords at a competition as I was trying to talk to my wee friend during the dance. My dance teacher gave me a talking too but then went on to dance her Swords and kicked them too!
|
Kilt Tartan
|
Dress Cerise Menzies, Dress McBeth and Dress Red McKeller.
|
What Do You Enjoy About Teaching?
|
I love it because you get a feeling you can't describe when you see children you have taught do well.
|
Other Hobbies / Interests
|
Playing football, going out with friends and family. I am also learning the bagpipes!
|
|
Kayleigh Boardman
|
Age Started Highland Dancing
|
8 Years Old
|
Reason For Starting Highland Dancing
|
I tried Ballet but wasn’t too keen on it and when I saw a friend dancing highland at school I thought I’d give it a try and have done it ever since.
|
Favorite Dance
|
I quite like the jig because you can pull funny faces and be mad, but I love choreography.
|
Favorite Competition
|
Aberdeen; the memories I have of that place; we go every year for a weekend and go shopping and have fun....especially the mums but that’s another story.
|
Highlight of Dancing Career
|
Winning the Class Overall Trophy a few years ago; it was so unexpected!!
|
Funniest Dancing Moment
|
There’s a few, most of which involve my underskirt being tucked into my pants.
|
Kilt Tartan
|
Royal Blue Dress Menzies
|
What Do You Enjoy About Teaching?
|
Passing on my knowledge of the dances to the wee ones and seeing them learn it; their faces when they know they’ve done well and get to choose their stickers.
|
Other Hobbies / Interests
|
I’m currently studying towards an honours degree in veterinary nursing and I’m into animal welfare. Achieved my gold award in the Duke of Edinburgh Award and have recently become a leader for my school. I love driving about in my car and watching Doctor Who.
|
|
Laura Boyle
|
Age Started Highland Dancing
|
6 Years Old
|
Reason For Starting Highland Dancing
|
Friends from my Primary School went and used to teach me in the Playground, so I asked my Mum to take me to the Class.
|
Favorite Dance
|
The Reel because you get to dance with other people and swing them round as fast as you want!
|
Favorite Competition
|
Aberdeen Highland Games as we go for the weekend and have lots of fun with my dancing friends. Also, if you win prizes the money is great!
|
Highlight of Dancing Career
|
Competing with dancers from the SOBHD who are really good and being placed on the prize list with them.
|
Funniest Dancing Moment
|
When I was dancing at Dollar Academy with Dani and it was pouring with rain, the pipers were playing around us and everytime I took a step to dance I fell flat on my back X 4! Not only was this embarrassing but Dani's mum has got it all on film!
|
Kilt Tartan
|
Dress Blue Eildon
|
What Do You Enjoy About Teaching?
|
I love to see all the younger dancers trying so hard when they are given corrections and I especially like the stories and cuddles I get from the first Class!
|
Other Hobbies / Interests
|
Shopping, meeting up with friends and learning to drive.
|
|
Alison McAneny
|
Age Started Highland Dancing
|
6 Years Old
|
Reason For Starting Highland Dancing
|
I used to go along to watch the dance class in Airth but I was very shy, I eventually was talked into joining the class (can't say I'm shy anymore though).
|
Favorite Dance
|
Seann Truibhas, but I love doing choreography
|
Favorite Competition
|
Airth games because it's our local games and lots of our friends and family come along to give their support.
|
Highlight of Dancing Career
|
Having the opportunity to represent our dance school and country at events at home and abroad.
|
Funniest Dancing Moment
|
At the Scottish Championships 2007, when we mucked up the broadswords and the judges, spectators and ourselves were bent over laughing - very embarrassing!
|
Kilt Tartan
|
Dress Royal Mackellar
|
What Do You Enjoy About Teaching?
|
watching the excitement on the little kids faces when they get to choose their stickers for doing their homework.
|
Other Hobbies / Interests
|
Spending time with my friends, listening to music, swimming, ice skating all the usual stuff.
|
|
Nicola Jenkins
|
Age Started Highland Dancing
|
3 Years Old
|
Reason For Starting Highland Dancing
|
My Grandma knew the person who worked in the old place where we used to have our lessons, I went along to try it out and it all started from there.
|
Favorite Dance
|
I love choreography dances. I dont have a favourite competition dance.
|
Favorite Competition
|
I don't really have a favourite competition.
|
Highlight of Dancing Career
|
Going to Germany and Aberdeen. We always have a great time!.
|
Funniest Dancing Moment
|
Dancing the "Flilt" (half flora half Lilt) when I was about 7 in front of a large audience.
|
Kilt Tartan
|
|
What Do You Enjoy About Teaching?
|
Knowing that you are helping the kids and seeing them progress. Its also great to get to know the children.
|
Other Hobbies / Interests
|
Shopping!! I love music and singing along. Also enjoy going out with friends.
|
|
Danielle Barrett
|
Age Started Highland Dancing
|
6 Years Old
|
Reason For Starting Highland Dancing
|
Laura used to come to my house for dinner and she recomended it to my mum.
|
Favorite Dance
|
jig and Seann Truibhas
|
Favorite Competition
|
Airth Games or Aberdeen because its such a fun weekend being with al the girls.
|
Highlight of Dancing Career
|
Getting the oppertunity to dance at the "Braemar Gathering" in front of the Queen.
|
Funniest Dancing Moment
|
|
Kilt Tartan
|
Dress Ferguson
|
What Do You Enjoy About Teaching?
|
I love when the wee girls win something and you know that you were the one who taught them to dance well.
|
Other Hobbies / Interests
|
Piano, Drums, Hockey, Singing, Ballroom dancing and I'm also in a choir and chamber choir.
|
|
