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Academy Senior Award Winner At North American Highland Weekend
Competing for the Sadie Simpson Scholarship in the Senior Category, Davidson was one of only nine dancers in her age group to win a trophy. There were a total of 37 competitors in her category. In addition to performing a solo choreography of Celtic or Scottish origin for a panel of three judges from Scotland, Canada and the United States, the scholarship competitors were also required to write a Highland theory paper and participate in a master class. Nadine McKenzie, a former World Highland Dance Champion from Scotland, taught this year’s master class. Davidson placed third in the theory paper event, winning a trophy honouring Canadian highland dance instructor Anne Sutherland, who is also a Fellow, examiner and life member of the British Association of Teachers of Dancing (B.A.T.D.), which organises and sponsors the competition. Heather Morris of Colchester, who has served as Davidson’s dance instructor for several years, took her Fellow’s exam during the weekend. Davidson’s father, Derek Davidson, instructor for the Academy’s Graham Highlanders bagpipe band, was honoured to perform and lead-in the honoured guests at the Ceilidh, a Scottish dance exhibition, held as part of the festivities. For more information about the Graham Highlanders at St. Johnsbury Academy, visit www.stjohnsburyacademy.org. Extracted from the Caledonian-Record issued 24/12/08 |
St. Johnsbury Academy senior and Highland dancer Ashley Davidson was among the award winners at the sixth annual North American Highland Weekend competition no Nov. 2 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.