2015 PRESENTERS:
Eleanor Belton is owner and Artistic Director of Aspects of Dance in Burlington, Ontario, she holds her Members National and Fellowship Highland with the British Association Teachers of Dancing, and is also an Adjudicator with the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing.
Eleanor had a very successful competitive dancing career when she lived in Glasgow Scotland, she emigrated to Ontario, Canada in 1979 and taught for other studios in the area, before opening her own studio in 1995. Most of the students at Aspects of Dance train in Highland, Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Musical Theatre and Acrobatics.
Many of her competitive highland dancers have travelled throughout Canada, Scotland and the United States winning many awards and Championships, some of her students have gone onto Professional careers with the National Ballet School of Canada, the San Francisco Ballet, Disney, Carnival Cruise Lines and Mirvish Productions in Toronto.
Eleanor’s Theatre Credits - Stage Director for Music Hall -Choreographer for “Annie” , “Lucky Stiff”, “Cinderella” and “Anne of Green Gables, where Eleanor travelled to Itabashi, Japan to perform as well as take on role of Dance Captain. T.V. credits “Street Legal” and dancer on “Road to Avonlea”.
Eleanor is delighted to have been asked to choreograph the 2015 ScotDance Canada Championship Series, Opening Ceremonies, being held in London, Ontario in July. Many of the students at Aspects of Dance will also be performing at the Closing Ceremonies of the 2015 Pan Am Games.
Eleanor is honoured to be asked to teach at the 2015 World Highland Dancing Conference, in Las Vegas, and wishes all teachers and dancers a wonderful weekend of dance.
Dr. Shannon Bredin, BPE, BEd, MSc, PhD, started Highland Dancing at 8 years of age and won her first Alberta Provincial Highland Dancing Championship by the age of 10 (and continued to represent Alberta in the Canadian championships for the next eight consecutive years). For her entire highland dancing career, Shannon danced under the direction of Mr. Bill Troock; and was in fact, Bill’s first Champion dancer. Some of Shannon’s other championships include: Northern Canadian Champion, Mid-Canadian Champion, as well as Expo ’86 Champion.
Currently, Shannon is an Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia, where she is founder and director of the Cognitive and Functional Learning Laboratory, as well as co-director of the Physical Activity Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Unit. Shannon is also a Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP)-Certified Exercise Physiologist® and a CSEP-Certified Personal Trainer Master Examiner.
In her work, Shannon has established herself as a leader and innovator in the field of physical activity and health. For example, she is the project lead for the creation and implementation of the Physical Activity Support Line (www.physicalactivityline.com), Canada’s free resource for evidence-based physical activity information. She was also principal investigator on the Getting Games Fit program for the 2010 Winter and Paralympic Games. She is also the founding Editor of the Health and Fitness Journal of Canada (www.healthandfitnessjournalofcanada.com). Shannon has received numerous honours for her work including the prestigious CSEP Health and Fitness Recognition Award and most recently an Alumni Award of Excellence from the University of Alberta for her accomplishments.
Shannon resides currently in Vancouver, British Columbia with her husband and two young sons, Declan and Aedan. She is an avid amateur photographer when not involved with her children’s various sporting endeavors.
Christie Freestone has been the Director of the Mid-Michigan Highland Dance Academy in Alma, Michigan where her students have won over 150 championships throughout the world over the past 37 years. She is a fellow member of the BATD and a member of the SOBHD judges' panel. Christie is a founding member of FUSTA and served as the organization's first president. In 2010, she was inducted into the FUSTA Hall of Fame. Christie has a Masters degree in early childhood education. She has lectured extensively about her research based methods of teaching young children to dance.
Christine Lacey from Alexandria, Scotland, was elected Chairman of the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing in November of 2006. She is also a Fellow, Examiner of the B.A.T.D. as well as an International Adjudicator on the S.O.B.H.D. Christine is a six time World Highland Dancing Champion.
Although well renowned in the world of Highland Dancing, Christine has also achieved recognition in both Tap and Ballet. She has held the titles of British Senior Ballet Champion; Scottish Junior and Senior Ballet Champion; Scottish Junior and Senior Tap Champion. Collectively, in all three disciplines she has accumulated over 250 Championship Titles.
Christine is in great demand lecturing, examining and adjudicating all over the world. She was trained at the Stewart School of Dancing in Alexandria, Scotland and is currently teaching there.
Christine’s teachers at The Stewart School of Dancing were Jessie Stewart Haggarty MBE, Agnes Stewart and Nancy Haggarty Gibbons. Christine is most indebted to all three ladies for not only giving her the skills in Dance but also her passion for Dance.
At present Christine is in Senior Management with the Bank of Scotland and is happily married to Donald MacPhee, who is also well known throughout the world for his bagpiping skills.
Christine is delighted to be a part of The World of Highland Dancing Conference in Las Vegas and is looking forward to meeting up with old friends, exchanging ideas and improvements for Highland Dancing, and is equally as excited at the prospect of making new friends over the weekend.
Shendl Russell, from Prestwick, Scotland, was born and raised in Ayr, Scotland where she studied highland dance under world- renowned teachers May Falconer, Willie Cuthbertson and Elspeth Strathearn. She is a former Scottish Champion and 1st runner up in the World Championship. As a teacher herself, Shendl’s achievements have included training the 2004 Adult World Champion.
She is a Member of the World Wide Judges’ Panel of the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing; a Fellow member and Examiner with the Scottish Dance Teachers’ Alliance. After serving as Chairman for 10 years, Shendl currently holds the position of President of the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing, the world governing body.
Shendl continues to teach, adjudicate and conduct workshops throughout Scotland, Canada, United States, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. Shendl is the Head Teacher at Barassie Primary in Troon, Scotland and an associate government inspector of schools.
Christine Aitken started dancing at the age of 3yrs and studied highland, tap, ballet, and modern dance. Her first highland teacher was Nancy Dickson and later Miss Jessie Stewart Haggarty MBE. Effie Drummond was her instructor in tap, ballet, and modern dance.
She competed regularly in Highland dancing and Stage Festivals and won the 10 years Championship at the Cowal Games in 1957 and was successful in many other competitions.
Christine has been principal of her dancing school for 47 years teaching all subjects. Her pupils compete regularly at Highland Competitions and are very successful. She is a Fellow and Examiner with the British Association of Teachers of Dancing, a past Vice-President, Member of the Executive Council, Chairman of the Association's Highland Committee and a Member of the Stage and Ballet Committee.
At present Christine is Convenor of the SOBHD Judges Committee and was, until her election as an Independent member, Convenor of the SOBHD Technical Committee. She was also a Delegate for the BATD on the SOBHD for 30 years.
Rhona Lawrence is dedicated to Highland Dancing. She knows no limits or boundaries in the distances travelled to attend each and every meeting. She is renowned for her regularity of attendance despite the difficulties that are so often presented. Having represented The Professional Highland Dance Association, Scotdance Canada and presently Head Delegate for the UKA, she takes very seriously the role of representation on the SOBHD. She has served many years on the Technical Committee of which she is now the Convenor. She has also regularly served on Registration and Disciplinary committees. As a Teacher, Judge, Examiner and Competition Promoter she feels that she has a deep insight into all the matters that come under SOBHD jurisdiction. She has regularly attended and contributed to The Steering Committee that established the Domestic Body for Scotland whose aims are to consolidate and develop Highland Dance in its country of origin.
Rhona is a Member of BATD, SDTA and a Fellow, Examiner and Vice President of the UKA. As Chairperson of the UKA Highland Division, Rhona runs and organizes events including the Annual Conference in Aberdeen, which has become the biggest gathering of Teachers of Highland Dance in Scotland. She has been heavily involved in the achievement of SQA and QCF Credits for the UKA, which is fantastic recognition for Highland Dance in Scotland and England. She is also organizer of the City of Aberdeen Championship, United Kingdom Championship, and Secretary of the Commonwealth Championship, Chairperson of Grampian Festivals and promotes many other events throughout the season including involvement in many Highland Games. At present Rhona is co-organizing the International Gathering of Scottish Highland Dance in Disneyland Paris, which is to take place from the 11th to 14th November this year.
Rhona is principal Director of the Lawrence Dance Academy in the North East of Scotland. The school has achieved World Class standard and has produced many Professionals who have attained Judges, Examiners and Teaching Degrees. Rhona has travelled worldwide judging, examining, coaching and lecturing. In her trips she constantly promotes Highland Dance at every level.
Linda Armstrong was born and raised in Southern California and has been an active teacher for over 45 years. Her students have won many championships titles throughout North America and Scotland, including 22 United States Championships titles, and most recently two of her students won the Juvenile World Championship in Cowal, 2013 and 2014.
Linda’s parents emigrated from Manitoba, Canada and her dad was a piper in the Canadian Legion Pipe Band. It was only natural that she would dance and her 3 brothers would pipe and drum. As you can imagine, summers were very busy attending highland games. To carry on the Scottish tradition, her son and daughter became pipers and her son, Colin is current pipe major of the Los Angeles Scots Pipe Band.
Linda is a Life Time Member and is currently serving as secretary for California for the B.A.T.D. She is also a member of the Federation of United States Teachers and Adjudicators, which she served as area representative, secretary and vice-president.
She thanks the organizers of this world-wide conference for inviting her to participate and looks forward to teaching.
Joy Tolev started dancing at the age of 3 under the instruction of Mrs. Evelyn Murray in Toronto, Ontario. During her competitive days she successfully competed in many highland dance competitions and championships throughout Canada and the United States.
She has been teaching at her own school of highland dancing in Toronto for the past 30 years and has produced many dancers of high caliber who have captured titles in various championships including the Ontario, Canadian, Scottish, Commonwealth and World Championships. There have been over 25 Canadian Championship Titles, many Scottish and Commonwealth Championship titles and runner-ups, and a World Champion who holds 10 World Titles.
She is a Fellow and Examiner of the B.A.T.D., North American Coordinator of the B.A.T.D., and adjudicator on the S.O.B.H.D. Judges panel.
Joy teaches annually at the Ohio Scottish Arts School which is a week camp in June, the Delco Workshop in February and travels across Canada, United States, Scotland, Australia and New Zealand, judging, examining and conducting workshops.
Betty Sutherland started Dance class at 3 years of age in her hometown of Alexandria, Scotland under the tutelage of Mrs. Haggarty (Jessie Stewart), one of the founder members of the S.O.B.H.D.
Betty presently teaches with her daughter Jan, in their own studios in Alexandria, where they teach a full range of subjects. Their students are regular prize-winners at competitions and championships both in Highland and Stage Dance. Their successes include Scottish, British, North American and World Championships. Betty is a regular visitor to Canada, America and South Africa as a Lecturer and Adjudicator; she also travels extensively as a Fellow and Examiner with the Scottish Dance Teachers’ Alliance.Betty is a Past President of the Scottish Dance Teachers’ Alliance Ltd. (2000 – 2003), and is now enjoying her second term as President (2010). She served as their delegate on the SOBHD for many years. In 2007 she was privileged to be made an Independent Member of the SOBHD and since then has strived to keep the “Board” to the forefront of Highland Dancing worldwide by working tirelessly on its various committees.
Dawn Fraser started her dancing career at the age of 4 as a student at the McKay School of Dancing where she was taught by the highly respected Sheila McKay and Anna Bain. Dawn spent her entire dancing days with Anna and Sheila and she is indebted to them both for giving her the knowledge, inspiration and passion for dance.
With the dedication of her teachers and parents, Dawn had a very successful competitive career winning around 40 Highland Championships, including the Scottish, British and Commonwealth titles.
Dawn is now a respected teacher and is fortunate to have many dedicated, hard-working students in her class who have enjoyed competitive success at home and overseas. She has produced champions in every age category, her students winning multiple major championships including The Scottish, Scottish National, British and Commonwealth titles. Due to this, Dawn is regularly invited to conduct professional workshops throughout the UK, Canada and the United States.
Dawn has also enjoyed much success as a choreographer having won the Highlands and Islands music and dance choreography challenge on four occasions.She is a Fellow and Examiner of the UKA and a delegate for FUSTA on the Scottish Official Board. She is also an adjudicator on the SOBHD worldwide judging panel and has had the pleasure of adjudicating major championships both at home and abroad.As well as her love for highland, Dawn also has a background in ballet, tap, modern, majorettes, cheerleading, scottish country dance, line dance and zumba and holds a professional qualification in each of these styles.
Elizabeth Gollan was trained by Frances Paterson in Edinburgh, Scotland in Highland, Ballet and Tap. She is a Life Member of the BATD and a Fellow of the SDTA and UKA and is also a co-director of the Paterson School of Dancing where she has taught for over 20 years. Elizabeth also teaches regularly in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Elizabeth has trained dancers who have won all championship titles in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, as well as the North American championship and the SOBHD UK Champion of Champions.
Elizabeth represents the International Festival of Dancing and the Arts on the SOBHD, is a member of the SOBHD Quality Assurance and Website Committees and is the current convenor of the SOBHD Organisers Committee meetings in the UK.
Outside highland dancing, Elizabeth is a Business Analyst with NCC Group and is currently based in Stirling.
Sheryl Joyner has been actively involved in Highland dance for many years. She was a student of Sherry Dalliday and successful competitor having won championships and choreography awards. Her professional experiences include many years performing and choreographing for the Scottish Dance Company of Canada under the direction of Sandra Bald Jones. She was also a soloist and choreographer for the Celtic Dance Company.
Sheryl is an Art, Drama and Dance teacher with the Toronto District School Board and has run her dance studio for over 23 years. Sheryl has trained many excellent dancers who have won first place in the Ontario, Canadian, North American, Commonwealth and Scottish championships. Seven of the students have placed in the top six at the World Championships including two Junior World Champions and two Adult First Runner-Up titles.
