Sherilyn HALL
Technical Director
Mrs Hall commenced Highland Dancing on Doctors advice after having
polio as a young child. She was taught by Mrs Emma Brown (nee Maye)
in her early years and later by Mrs Edna Moore, returning to Mrs
Brown on occasions for further lessons in her teenage years. She
also learnt ballet and piano.
Her competitive achievements were renowned throughout the country.
In her early twenties Mrs Hall became a demonstrator for the Technical
Committee and later a Technical Committee member. She assisted the
Research Committee, again in a demonstrating role, while the current
Highland and Step Dance Syllabuses were being compiled.
On Mrs Brown’s retirement Mrs Hall was appointed the Technical
Director. As Director she has overseen the development of the Academy
Initial to Grade 1 video, the preparation of the Let’s Dance
and Getting Started syllabuses, the restructuring of the Medal Tests
and the revamp of the Refresher (Dance Development) Course. As well
as undertaking examining duties, she has conducted workshops and
seminars throughout New Zealand, and tutored at Summer Schools.
In 1999 Mrs Hall represented the New Zealand Academy of Highland
and National Dancing at the International Highland Dance Conference
in Las Vegas, conducting Step Dancing workshops and speaking on
an international panel.
Mrs Hall was accomplished in netball and gymnastics and represented
New Zealand in Volleyball in the early 1970’s. She currently
owns and operates a ladies fashion boutique in Palmerston North
and when not involved with dancing in her spare time enjoys travel,
boating and deep sea fishing as well as a good book!
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Susan EDWARDS
At the age of five Mrs Edwards was rather a reluctant beginner
in Highland Dancing classes, and after having been gently prised
from her seat by her mother and her teacher, discovered the love
of dance and has not stopped since. She went on to learn classical
ballet and piano, attaining her Highland Dancing Diploma at the
age of 18 years, and gaining experience teaching ballet and highland
with her teacher, Mrs Zenda Smith.
Moving to the small seaside village of Muriwai, she found teaching
dance an excellent way of getting involved and contributing to the
small community, where her pupils have given much pleasure entertaining
at various community activities.
Mrs Edwards has gained much knowledge and experience from playing
the piano for Summer Schools and Academy Examinations, and from
tutoring at Summer Schools in Auckland and Christchurch. It gives
Mrs Edwards pleasure to be able to nurture in dancers the many qualities
that are a part of learning Highland Dancing.
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Jacqueline JONES
Mrs Jacqueline Jones has a love of dance and has been teaching
for over twenty-four years. She had a successful competitive dancing
career, including winning New Zealand Championships.
Mrs Jones has taught a significant number of students through to
championship level and on to receiving their New Zealand Academy
of Highland and National Dancing Diplomas. These students have gone
on to be active members of the Academy and have become teachers
in their own right.
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Cushla PIESSE
Mrs Cushla Piesse joined the NZ Scottish Society in Christchurch
some 43 years ago, enchanted by that gem of Celtic culture, the
dance.
She attended the Society's Saturday classes, became the Society's
Junior Champion in 1963 and was three times Senior Champion.
Under the tutelage of Mrs Jeanie Paton, she passed her Academy
examinations with honours in all grades, culminating with Solo Seal.
For many years now she has organised and tutored the Scottish Society's
classes, organised dancers for the Society's ceilidhs, organised
and tutored at summer schools and taught pupils of her own.
For over a decade, she has been an Examiner on the Technical Committee
of the NZ Academy.
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Robyn SIMMONS
Mrs Simmons was a pupil of the late Betty Campbell who was taught
by Donald Guild. Mrs Simmons mother was also taught by Betty, who
instilled a love of all forms of dance in her pupils with opportunities
to perform in recitals and operatic society productions.
Mrs Simmons competed mostly in the South Island and completed her
New Zealand Academy of Highland and National Dancing Diploma in
1975 with Honours in all grades. At this time Betty was terminally
ill so Mrs Simmons sat all four step dancing examinations at one
session and then put her energies into teaching. Mrs Simmons holds
qualifications in Jazz as well as Highland Dance.
Mrs Simmons has been a member of the Academy's Technical Committee
since 1988 and loves the contact this position offers with Academy
members and their pupils throughout New Zealand, both in her role
as an examiner and as a tutor at summer schools, seminars and workshops.
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Adele SWANSON
Mrs Swanson began dancing in Gisborne at the age of 6 learning Ballet,
Highland and Tap all to an accomplished level but chose to pursue
the Art of Highland and National Dancing and in doing so achieved
her Advanced Diploma with Honours in all Grades. Mrs Swanson was
a pupil of the late Mrs Colleen Parker who was herself a pupil of
Mr McLennan. Under her guidance she gained valuable knowledge, training
and experience in the history and technique relating to the New
Zealand Academy and the old scottish dancing masters. While living
in Wellington Mrs Swanson took lessons from another respected teacher
the late Mrs Adeline Hobbs, and finally retired from the competitive
platform at the age of 29.
Mrs Swanson’s teaching career spans 25 years. She has been
an Adjudicator for almost 30 years and has officiated at numerous
major meetings throughout New Zealand. She has been on the Technical
Committee of the New Zealand Academy for almost 15 years.
Mrs Swanson is a phlebotomist in the Laboratory for the Hawkes
Bay District Health Board. Her love of Dance and Music is what gives
her continued enthusiasm and motivation to promote the Art of Highland
and National Dancing for the benefit of all Kiwi Children.
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Pamela FLEMING
Mrs Fleming started her dancing career in Ballet at the age of 5
years, and quite by accident transferred to Highland and National
Dancing aged 9 years, learning initially from Mrs Cathie Boult of
Whakatane and completing her training with Mrs Gillian Telford of
Hamilton. She continued on with her ballet at a later stage and
also learnt the piano from 8 years old. She competed successfully
throughout New Zealand and attained honours in all dancing examinations.
After many years of dedication and hard work she was proud to achieve
Solo Seal at New Plymouth in 1976 aged 18 years.
She commenced teaching dance in Whakatane over 30 years ago, and
continues to pass on her knowledge and love of dancing, teaching
at a studio on Auckland's North Shore.
Being involved in Highland and National dancing has, and continues
to be a very important aspect of her life. She gains real pleasure
through contributing in many ways especially on the Auckland Teachers
& Judges Association. She valued the opportunity to demonstrate
at the NZ Academy Annual Conferences during 1976 - 1985 and is pleased
to join the Technical Committee.
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Elizabeth SMITH
Being the only daughter of bagpiping parents (Graham and Margaret
Rusbatch) Mrs Smith was always destined to be involved in 'things
Scottish'.
She began dancing, aged 5, in Rangiora and completed her NZHND
Diploma and Medal Tests in Christchurch under the tutelage of Mrs
Joan Osborne. She continued competing until her mid twenties, while
also pursuing other interests of Irish Dancing and tenor drumming
with the Canterbury Caledonian Society Pipe Band, including winning
a National Drumming Championship.
Mrs Smith began teaching as a teenager and continues to do so in
Rangiora and Christchurch. She is also involved with the Canterbury
Caledonian Society Dance Classes and with the Balmoral Club Teachers
and Judges organising competitions, seminars and the Christchurch
Summer School. Mrs Smith continually finds this involvement to be
a rewarding experience, being able to enrich pupils' lives and at
the same time gives her an opportunity to give something back to
Highland Dancing.
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Janet ALLISON
Mrs Allison's interest in the culture of dance has spanned more
than 50 years. She commenced Ballet and Highland in the South Island
town of Waimate and competed very successfully for many years. Her
love of dance always to the fore saw the then "Miss Algie" start
teaching at age 15 and soon boasted a delightful dancing school
in the small town.
Always fascinated by the art of performance, Mrs Allison commenced
Speech and Drama at age 7 and loved performing in the end of year
Recitals and Productions. She passed her ATCL in Speech and Drama
before leaving Waimate.
On her marriage to piper Husband Stephen, Mrs Allison moved to
Masterton, where she again resumed teaching Highland Dancing and
Speech and Drama, making her mark in the Community with pupils who
competed successfully throughout New Zealand. Always seeking a personal
challenge she resumed her own studies and attained her LTCL in Speech
and Drama.
In the late 70's, Mrs Allison, her husband and baby daughter Kylie,
moved to Lower Hutt. It wasn't long before the passion of dance
once again came to the fore with Mrs Allison spending many hours
back teaching, this time specialising in Highland Dance. It was
during this year that the urge to once again return to the competitive
platform came to fruition under the expertise of the late Mrs Adeline
Hobbs. It wasn't long before this passion of dance was passed on
to daughter Kylie, and they would both attend dance class together.
At this time, Mrs Allison also became a demonstrator for the Academy.
Another challenge presented itself that saw Mrs Allison commence,
and complete, all her Tap Dancing examinations with Honours in all
Grades.
Highlights over the years include Tutoring at Hastings, Auckland,
Christchurch and Napier Summer Schools, Judging at Major Championship
Meetings, taking a team of Highland Dancers to the Tattoo in Virginia
USA. and participating in the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, as a Snare
Drummer, for the City of Wellington Pipe Band along with her husband
and daughter.
Today Mrs Allison teaches under the name of Thistlebrae Dance Academy.
She is a Member of the Technical Committee of the NZ Academy, and
enjoys sharing her knowledge, enthusiasm and love of dance. Her
other interests include playing bagpipes, and is a member of the
Paraparaumu Pipe Band.
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Sue GILL
I am married with three adult children and live in Winton Southland.
My involvement in Highland Dancing spans many years.I learnt to
dance at the age of four and have been teaching and judging since
I was eighteen. I began my dancing tuition with Douglas Williams
and completed my senior years under the tuition of Mrs Daisy Horrell.
Since the age of eighteen I have taught many pupils.What has given
me the most pleasure over this time has been seeing the majority
of them complete their Academy exams and continue to teach and judge.
I thoroughly enjoy being part of the Technical committee and look
forward to contributing to the Academy as it moves into the 21st
century.
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