The New Zealand Academy of Highland and National Dancing

The New Zealand Academy of Highland and National Dancing is an examination body that trains and qualifies highland dancers, teachers and judges. The Academy fosters and maintains the Highland and National dances brought to New Zealand by the Scottish Settlers.

The New Zealand Academy of Highland and National Dancing (Inc) was first inaugurated in 1945 with the objective to raise the standard of technique and execution and to establish a fuller appreciation of the art and beauty of the national dances.

The New Zealand Academy of Highland and National Dancing (Inc) (The Academy) is a non-profit organisation.

The vision of our founders was based on excellence of performance along with an holistic approach with an emphasis on education through

• historical and theoretical knowledge
• fitness through exercise progression
• the achievement of dance quality through an understanding of both the presentation and technical requirements.

The aim was a complete dancer, able to perform, to teach and to adjudicate with confidence.