Technical Committee

The Technical Committee are appointed for the purpose of fostering correct and recognised techniques in Highland and National Dancing. Members of the committee prepare and conduct examinations, and provide ongoing training for Academy members. The many skills and talents within this hard working Committee over the years have seen them successfully complete projects as diverse as the preparation of new examination syllabuses, research the lesser known dances of Scotland through to the preparation of an instruction video for teachers and young dancers.

Sherilyn Hall (Technical Director)
Janet Allison
Susan Edwards
Pamela Fleming
Julie Hawke
Sue Gill
Jacqueline Jones
Cushla Piesse
Robyn Simmons
Elizabeth Smith
Adele Swanson

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, the amended Highland Grades and Sailors Hornpipe Syllabuses while currently overseeing the amended Irish Syllabuses and the revamp of the Refresher (Dance Development) Course. While no longer examining she continues to tutor at Summer Schools and conduct workshops and seminars.

She has twice represented the NZ Academy at the International Highland Dance conference in Las Vegas conducting Step Dance workshops, speaking on an International panel in 1999. On two occasions she has been Chaperon with the NZ Dance team to the Virginia International Tattoo in Norfolk, Virginia. 

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 City of Wellington Pipe Band.
 

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.

Pamela Fleming

Mrs Fleming commenced her dancing career in the Bay of Plenty, with Ballet at the age of 5 years.  Her ballet teacher was involved in a serious car accident and not able to teach, so when Mrs Cathie Boult a Highland and National Dancing teacher shifted to live next door, she was encouraged to take up this form of dance at age 9 years.  She compelted her training with Mrs Gilliam Telford of Hamilton.  Music and Dance has been an important part of her life, as she learn't piano form 8 years old and continued with ballet at a later stage.  She competed successfully in Highland throughout New Zealand and in 1975 received her Advanced Diploma with Honours in all grades.  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 35 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 passion.  She gains real pleasure through contributing in many ways and has served as a President, Secretary and Treasurer on the Auckland Teachers & Judges Association.  She is actively involved on the Auckland Centre of the Piping & Dancing Assn of NZ. She valued the opportunity to be a demonstrator for the NZ Academy at their Annual conferences between 1976 and 1985, and enjoys her role on Technical Committee. 
 

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

Jacqueline Jones

Jacqueline Jones has always had a love of dance and music, commencing dancing at the age of four years.

Jacqueline learnt under the tutelage of her mother Joan Osborne, and had a successful dancing career throughout New Zealand.

In 1983 Jacqueline received her Diploma from the N.Z.A.H.N.D, enabling her to become a teacher and adjudicator, however Jacqueline had been teaching several years prior to this, giving her over 30 years experience.

In 2000 Jacqueline was appointed onto the Technical Committee, and since then has enjoyed examining, presenting workshops and tutoring at Summer Schools throughout New Zealand.

Jacqueline has a strong passion for dance and aims to cotinually fostr the art of Highland and National Dancing.  Furthermore Jacqueline both understands and is committed to, exploring the benefits of what dance cnad o for stimulating the overall development of the child.

Jacqueline operates a full time dance dance school in Christchurch, New Zealand, which encompasses both Highalnd and Jazz Dancing.  Outside of dancing Jacqueline enjoys spending time with husband Nic and son Jonty.

Cushla Piesse

Cushla is a 50 year veteran of Highland Dancing. She has been on the Technical Committee of the New Zealand Academy for 20 years. She particularly likes this role, as the examination system focuses on attention to detail and trying to perfect movements.

Cushla has been Head Tutor at the Scottish Society's Saturday morning Dance class in Christchurch for over 30 years. Teaching at these classes brings reward and satisfaction and gives children the freedom to learn with enjoyment without the competitive atmosphere.

Cushla also has a small dancing school - she likes to teach without pressure giving the children her time and attention to get it right. The close parent-teachers relationship is also important to her.

Cushla was President of the Teachers & Judges (Balmoral Club) in Christchurch for many years and is now the President of the Canterbury West Coast Centre of the Piping and Dancing Association.  She believes that it is always good to give yourself a challenge in life and taking on this role has certainly been that.

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.

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.

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.

Julie Hawke

I have been extremely passionate about Highland Dancing since commencing at a young age with Miss Muriel Waugh, and completing my senior exams with Mrs Joan Osborne.

I competed extensively gaining Provincial, South Island and New Zealand Championship titles, gaining my diploma in 1980. I have been teaching for over 30 years and I am currently teaching full time to 80 pupils from pre school to senior level , at studios in Ashburton and Christchurch. I find teaching very rewarding and I enjoy the challenge of helping pupils to reach their full potential, and many have now gained their diplomas and competed successfully at the highest level.
I am the president of the Ashburton Highland and National Dancing Association, Vice President of the Canterbury West Coast Centre, and a member of the Christchurch Teachers and Judges Balmoral Club.

I have adjudicated at all levels of New Zealand Championship Competitions , prestigious Highland Games Gatherings at Waipu and Hastings, and tutored at workshops and summerschools throughout the country.

I have a special interest in choreography, and I feel very proud to have been appointed Co-ordinator of the Highland Dance Company of New Zealand. It is certainly a privilege to work with senior dancers from throughout New Zealand in this exciting new dance company, showcasing their talents both nationally and internationally.
I have recently been appointed to the Technical Committee, which has been a personal goal to attain, and I very much look forward to representing the Academy in this new role.

I am married to Richard, who with our three sons, Jamie, Harry and Angus all successfully play the bagpipes. I enjoy supporting them in their solo and pipe band careers throughout New Zealand and Scotland.