Alison Munro, Scotland
I live in Buckie on the North East Coast of Scotland, and have been teaching now for over 40years. I have recently been awarded my life member from UKA Dance Ltd and I am
also a Member of the BATD SDTA and a UKA Examiner and an RSOBHD adjudicator.
We have around 60 pupils that come regularly to our classes and I am proud to have developed a great team spirit within
the school enabling me to help each dancer to reach their full potential. Our dancers have won many championship and premiership titles both in Scotland England Canada and
USA. And also a RSOBHD Oscar winner.
My dancers love choreography and I enjoy putting routines together for them to develop confidence and skills in dance.
The school has won many prizes at the Highland and Islands Music and Dance Festival over the years. It is amazing the opportunities that I have had conducting
workshops and adjudicating both at home and abroad and the life long friends I have made along the way. Highland Dancing is a huge part of my life and the passion I have for it never diminishes. It is such a privilege to see a dancer you have trained become successful and this gives me so much
joy.
I am so grateful to the USIR for the invitation to adjudicate at this prestigious event and very much looking forward to it. Keep Dancing !!
Rosaline Hendry, Scotland
ORIGINALLY A PUPIL OF BOBBY WATSON ABERDEEN, I HAVE BEEN TEACHING HIGHLAND DANCING FOR OVER 50 YEARS NOW. I AM A FELLOW AND EXAMINER WITH THE UKA, A MEMBER OF THE SDTA AND HAVE ALSO BEEN AN RSOBHD ADJUDICATOR ON THE WORLDWIDE PANEL SINCE 1984. I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF ADJUDICATING AND CONDUCTING WORKSHOPS AT MANY MAJOR EVENTS AT HOME AND ABROAD.
I HAVE ENJOYED TEACHING TO A HIGH LEVEL WITH STUDENTS WINNING MAJOR TITLES WORLDWIDE INCLUDING “WORLDS” AT COWAL. I NOW TEACH MOSTLY CHAMPIONSHIP DANCERS AT THE “HENDRY WATT DANCE SCHOOL” ABERDEENSHIRE AND OUR AIM IS TO ENCOURAGE OUR DANCERS TO BE THE BEST THEY CAN BE.
I ALSO LOVE TO TEACH THEORY TO OUR STUDENTS THROUGH TO PROFESSIONAL EXAMS AND WE NOW HAVE SEVEN RSOBHD JUDGES WITHIN OUR SCHOOL.
I AM LOOKING FORWARD VERY MUCH TO A GREAT WEEKEND OF DANCING IN DALLAS AND CATCHING UP ONCE AGAIN WITH SDUSA FRIENDS.
Eilidh McMillan, Scotland
Eilidh started dancing at the age of 3 & was taught by her mother Aileen Robertson.
Eilidh is a 3 time Champion of Champions receiving the Oscar award from the
RSOBHD.
She is an 11 time United Kingdom Champion & also holds British Open,
Commonwealth, Scottish, Northern Canadian, & North American titles. In her
competitive career she won 90 Championship titles in the Junior & Adult classes.
She placed many times in the top 6 in the World Championships in all three
Categories qualifying 9 years in a row. In 1998 she won the Scottish Championship
at Cowal & placed 4 th in the Juvenile World Championship at the age of 12.
Her main triumph was being awarded 5 th place in the Adult World Championship & gaining the award for the top Scottish Dancer in the World Championship in 1996.
Eilidh is a Fellow & Examiner of the Scottish Dance Teachers Alliance.
She is head Delegate on the Royal Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing
representing SDUSA, & is an Adjudicator on the RSOBHD Worldwide Panel of
Adjudicators & has Judged on many occasions in Canada & USA.
Eilidh has performed for many years in the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo & has
danced in Las Vegas, Virginia, Berlin, Zurich, Basel, & China.
Eilidh teaches at the Aileen Robertson School of Dancing & is delighted to be back in
the USA as an Adjudicator at the USIR in Dallas Texas.
Kirsty Marsic, Scotland
Kirsty has enjoyed involvement in the world of Highland Dancing for more than 40 years – first as a
competitor, and now as a Fellow, Life Member and Examiner of the BATD, as well as a member of the RSOBHD World Wide Judges Panel. She considers herself incredibly fortunate to have been trained from nine years old at the Stewart School of Dancing in Alexandria, guided and inspired by two exceptional ladies, the late Mrs Jessie Stewart Haggarty MBE and Miss Christine Lacey MBE.
A delegate to the RSOBHD since 2008, Kirsty currently contributes her experience to the Quality Assurance, Rules and Website Committees. She is actively involved in the BATD Scottish West Region and as a competition organiser, having run the BATD Highland Championships for the past 10 years.
Kirsty has treasured memories of travelling to Texas 25 years ago with her dancing school as a competitor, and of the many special connections that grew from that trip. She is excited to return to Dallas to adjudicate at the ScotDance USA National Championships and sends her very best wishes to the organisers, and all dancers, teachers and families for a successful and memorable event.
Shelley Chalmers, Scotland
Shelley began Highland Dancing at the age of five under the direction of Wilma Tolmie and
enjoyed a highly successful competitive career spanning more than 21 years. Throughout her career, Shelley achieved many competitive highlights, including becoming a Champion dancer, placing in the top six at all major UK Championships, and reaching the finals of the World Highland Dancing Championships on numerous occasions.
Shelley is a Fellow of the UKA and has been a member of the RSOBHD worldwide judges
panel for the past 15 years. During her adjudicating career, she has judged many of the UK’s leading championships, with a particular highlight judging the World Championship at the Cowal Highland Gathering in 2022.
Beyond competition, Shelley has travelled extensively performing at folk festivals throughout Europe and has lectured and performed internationally with Flings and Things. Additional performance highlights include appearances at New York Tartan Week, RBS 6 Nations and the Solheim Cup. Shelley has also toured with The Red Hot Chilli Pipers and Whiskey Kiss.
Outside of Highland Dancing, Shelley is a proud mum of three and is now enjoying returning to the competitive circuit alongside her daughter, giving her a fresh perspective on life as a dance parent. Professionally, Shelley works as a Finance Manager for a Textile manufacturer in Kirriemuir and has previously worked for the prestigious The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.
As this is Shelley’s first international judging event, she is very much looking forward to
fantastic weekend of dancing.
Linda Napier, Scotland
Linda Napier began highland Dancing at 6 having been taught by Wilma Tolmie andMarion Lawson and had many successful years as a competitive dancer. Linda is a Fellow, Examiner and Life Member of the UKA, Member of the BATD and SDTA and an RSOBHD Adjudicator, having had the privilege to adjudicate , examine, teach and conduct workshops in the UK, Canada, USA, Australia and Russia.
The Napier School of Highland Dance is commencing its 50th year. Over the years Linda has taught several champion dancers who have won titles both at home and overseas including United Kingdom, Scottish, Scottish National, British, Commonwealth, North American and World Championships. Apart from competitive dance her dancers enjoy all non competitive aspects from exam day, choreography performances and weekly classes but most importantly having fun and making new friendships.
It is an honour and a pleasure to have been invited to adjudicate in Dallas at this years SDUSA National Championship and associated events and wish everyone involved a wonderful few days of Highland Dancing.
Sheryl Joyner, Canada
Sheryl Joyner has been a dancer, teacher, and judge in the Highland dance community for many years. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and brings both artistic and educational expertise to her work. In addition to her dance career, Sheryl has worked for the Toronto District School Board as an elementary teacher, arts specialist, and ESL specialist.
Her professional dance career includes extensive performing and choreographing with the Scottish Dance Company of Canada, as well as with the Celtic Dance Company.
Sheryl has made significant artistic contributions to ScotDance Canada, including serving as the lead choreographer for Canada’s virtual presentation in the RSOBHD 70th Anniversary Celebration in 2022.
As the Director of Joyner Highland Dance Studio—now in operation for over 30 years—Sheryl has trained many outstanding dancers who have earned titles at the Ontario, Canadian, North American, Commonwealth, and Scottish Championships. Several of her students have placed in the top six at the World Championships, including two who won the title of Junior World Champion. Sheryl also contributes to the broader dance community through her work on the ScotDance Ontario executive, where she is a past president.
Erin Welk, Canada
Erin has a passion for highland dance and a commitment to excellence in developing young dancers. She has
been involved in highland dance for almost 40 years, first as a competitor and now as a teacher and adjudicator.
Erin is a 4-time Canadian Champion and in 1999 finished 3rd at the World Junior
Highland Dance Championships. Throughout her career she has been involved in numerous shows, the highlight
of which was representing Canada at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in 2002.
She loves the musicality, the technique, the power, and the focus that has come with dancing at a high level and
is keen to share this with the next generation of dancers. Erin now lives in Kelowna, B.C. with her two young
daughters and husband.
Joy Tolev, Canada
Joy (Allen) 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 40
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 30 Canadian Championship winners, many
Scottish and Commonwealth Championship winners, 11 World Championship titles and
many runner-ups.
She is a Fellow and Examiner of the B.A.T.D., North American Co-ordinator of the
B.A.T.D., and adjudicator on the R.S.O.B.H.D. Judges panel.
Besides her busy teaching schedule, she travels across Canada, United States, Scotland,
Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, judging, examining and conducting
workshops.’
Donald MacPhee, Scotland
Donald MacPhee is a member of the RSPBA Adjudicators panel (Piping & Ensemble). After a successful pipe band career he retired from Grade 1 pipe band competition at the end 2014 accumulating 34 Major Championships, 8 Champion of Champions titles, 6 World Championships and 2 Grand Slams while a member of the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band.
Some of his solo major successes are Former winner (ceol beag) at both the Argyllshire Gathering and Northern Meeting, The New Zealand Piobaireachd Society’s Gold Medal, The Donald MacDonald Quaich .The Former Winners MSR at the Scottish Pipers Association professional contest, the overall solo piper award at the Cowal Highland Gathering and winner of The Highland Society of London’s Gold Medal at the Northern Meeting.
Donald is well known for Piping for Dancers. He has produced over the past 30 years 3 Piping for Dancing Professional recordings - the latest "The Definitive Collection" which is highly acclaimed by dancers, teachers and examiners.
Donald holds a Graduate & Senior Teachers Certificate from the Institute of Piping as well as the Advanced Certificate and Teachers Certificate from the RSPBA. He is a highly regarded and respected travelled solo adjudicator with the Solo Piping Judges Association. With his many years in education Donald also works as a Visiting Assessor and External Verifier (Scottish Bagpipes) for the SQA ( The Scottish Qualifications Authority). Donald teaches for Argyll and Bute Council in Lower Argyll ( Helensburgh area ) and the Lomond School in Helensburgh ; he lives happily in Alexandria with his beautiful wife Christine, a former 6 time World Highland Dance champion.
Daniel Carr, Canada
Daniel Carr began dancing at the age of three with the Sheila Milne School of Dance in Owen Sound, Ontario. He received world class training in highland dance from Mrs. Milne as well as ballet, modern, jazz, tap and musical theatre from top instructors that came from all over the world. Some highlights of his highland dance career included winning major championships throughout Canada, US and Scotland including the Ontario, Canadian and World championships. Daniel teaches highland dancing in Collingwood, ON and has been very fortunate to teach workshops throughout North America and UK.
Aside from dancing, Daniel plays bagpipes and teaches local students in Collingwood. He competes in solo bagpiping competition and recently was awarded the Canadian gold medal for Piobaireachd. He is also a member of the Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance and Alpine Canada and has taught/coached skiing for 15+ years in the Collingwood area.
Doug Forbese, USA
Doug Frobese began playing bagpipes at age 9 at St. Thomas Episcopal School in
Houston, Texas. In 1991, Doug joined the Hamilton—now St. Thomas Alumni—Pipe
Band, served as pipe major from 1997 to 2000 when the band won grade 3A and took
third prize in grade 2 at the World Pipe Band Championships, and he played with the
band when it won the grade 2 World Championship in 2019. Besides pipe bands, Doug also plays for Scottish highland dancing competitions and with the Celtic folk band The Rogues. When not piping, Doug is a lawyer in Dallas.