Emily Ashton, age 13, has been highland dancing with Scottie School of Highland Dance since the age of 2. She competes locally and provincially, participates in yearly dance exams, and dances for the community throughout the year at different functions and events (Fall fair, Concert in the Park, Castlewood Village, Castleview Care Centre, Spring Fling, Kootenay Festival). Emily has recently been selected and nominated to compete in the B.A.T.D (British Association of Teachers of Dancing) North American Sadie Simpson Highland Scholarship as part of the Junior Highland Scholarship in Seattle, Washington on October 3, 4, and 5. She was nominated and selected after achieving Honours on her grade three theory exam.
Each year a Scottish Official Board-certified examiner travels throughout our province to test dancers on their different levels of exams. If they choose to take them, the dancers study and practice to take these exams yearly. Emily has taken exams for the past six years and has always achieved top marks. She has been nominated twice now, as she received honours in her grade two theory exam as well. The scholarship consists of a class, a written paper where the dancers will have theory questions to answer, and then they will be expected to dance an original solo of their own that they have arranged with their teacher.
Thank you to all who have supported Emily in her fundraising efforts to make this trip happen.