CELTFEST 2025 SPRING BREAK HIGHLAND DANCE CAMP& Workshops

CELTFEST 2025 SPRING BREAK HIGHLAND DANCE CAMP& Workshops

  Mar 25, 26, 27 @ Dance Unlimited Studios, 5748 Culduthel Rd, VICTORIA

for all competitive level dancers Pre-Premier to Premier | Championship Level

·       9am -3pm- Levels 2 & 3

·       12-3- Level 1

Instructors include*:

Lindsay Perreault, ON/BC, BATD, RSOBHD Judges’ Panel**

Sherril Medd, BC, Member, SDTA, RSOBHD Judges’ Panel

Carolyn Phillips Cusson, BC, Member BATD, RSOBHD Judges’ Panel  

Wenda Crawford, BC, Member, SDTA, RSOBHD Judges’ Panel

A 3-day Intensive series of workshops that includes classes in:

·       Competition Preparation: Strengthened Technique, Fitness & Stamina

·       Injury Prevention and Performance Enhancement

·       New Fun Dances (Level 1) & Choreography (Level 2-3)

·       Championship and Premiership Set Steps -PROFESSIONALS/CPD workshops

·       Art & Tartan Crafts |Professional Shows | Leadership & Sportsmanship in Dance

*Programming of classes and instructors subject to the dancers who register

**Lindsay will not be teaching any participants competing at the BC Open Championship competition Apr. 5, 2025. Please advise on registration

                         LINDSAY ROSE PERREAULT

Lindsay began competing internationally shortly after starting lessons at 8. Her competitive career spanned 17 years. Some competitive highlights include winning the British Overseas Championship and placing in the top 6 at the North American Championships and Ontario Provincial Championships consistently. After graduation, she began evening classes at the National Ballet in Toronto. The following year she completed the Dance Performance Program at George Brown College studying other styles of dancing. Lindsay represented Canada in four international shows dancing in the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2012, 2014, and the Basel Tattoo in Switzerland 2013, 2016. She continues to develop her own repertoire for local events and concerts. In 2017, Lindsay was selected to highland dance in a national commercial. Lindsay also runs the Durham Regional Police Pipe Band dance group enjoys choreographing with them for tattoos and events.

Lindsay created LR Dance Swords which provides affordable, customizable swords. Very active in the professional dance community, Lindsay also volunteers her time as the Competition Organizer for the Durham RHDA (ON) competitions. Her students have been nominated yearly for Sadie Simpson BATD scholarships, and she has trained qualifiers for the Canadian championship. Recently Lindsay relocated to Victoria BC to complete her Pilates instructor training, which she will share in this camp.

                                                 SHERRIL MEDD

Originally from Alberta, Sherril began teaching in 1976, equipped with a passion for Highland Dance and an intuitive sense that through dance, she could create a unique culture that would bring out the best in everyone --- a community that would teach more than just dance, one that would challenge and inspire students to reach their full potential in whatever they do.

Sherril is a Fellow of the SDTA and a member of the RSOBHD worldwide panel of judges.  Her dancers have had exceptional success in their achievements at both national and international level championships as well as competitive choreography.

Sherril and her husband Terry recently moved to Victoria with their two dogs – Jake and Elwood and are loving Island life, exploring beaches and trails. They do agility training with their dogs- who can’t wait for their daily “practice” sessions!  As ScotDance BC’s Judges liaison, Sherril will facilitate the CPD RSOBHD set steps sessions.

CELTFEST 2024 SPRING BREAK HIGHLAND DANCE CAMP p.2

                         CAROLYN PHILLIPS CUSSON   - Director, Instructor

As an Airforce brat, Carolyn studied ballet and music in Europe until returning to Canada at age 9 and starting Highland Dancing at age 11 in Ottawa. Carolyn won her first Ontario Championship at age 13, and went on to become Eastern Canada Champion, Great Lakes Champion, Western US Champion, runner-up BC Champion and Canadian Interprovincial Champion, and was a World Championship Finalist. She competed and won titles until she was 25, under the name “Carolyn Olsen”, then “Olsen-Phillips”. Moving from Ontario to BC at age 17, Carolyn considers herself fortunate to have trained with some of the greatest Highland teachers across North America and Scotland. In turn, she has trained hundreds of dancers, many becoming provincial champions and Canadian champion finalists. She and her mother, Donna Macdonell Olsen, formed the Central Interior Highland Dancing Association in Prince George, BC. A Life Member of the BATD, and an RSOBHD judge for over 40 years, she enjoys adjudicating, teaching, and sharing her passion for the culture and excellence in the arts all over the world.

Carolyn served for eight years as Governor on the Board of Directors for Ballet British Columbia, Canada's fourth largest professional dance organization, for the United Way, and for the Island Crisis Care Society’s Women’s Shelter, among other charities. She was Artistic Director for the BC Summer Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies and Choreographer and Dance Director of the Pacific Tattoo.

Carolyn is a Certified Professional Coach and management consultant with her company, CUE Consulting. She coaches executives and teaches university leadership, business, and tourism courses, and often works with festivals and cultural groups on organizational development and strategic leadership. Carolyn founded CeltFest Vancouver Island with her husband, piper and composer, René Cusson, providing learning and performance events for her community and beyond. She has two daughters, Megan and Céitinn-- both former Highland dancers who now perform and teach in other realms.  Carolyn will co-facilitate the RSOBHD set step sessions.

                                                                               WENDA CRAWFORD

Originally from Alberta, in addition to Highland dance, Wenda studied tap, musical theatre, jazz, ballet and modern (Toronto Dance Theatre).  She received her Teacher Training at the National Ballet School of Canada.  She has choreographed for community theatre, The Scottish Dance Company of Canada, Celtic Accent, Owen Sound Celtic Dance Company, Scarborough Music Theatre, and freelance opportunities.

Wenda works in the movement and manual therapy fields incorporating her education in Sports Injury Management (athletic therapy), Registered Massage Therapy, Critical Alignment Therapy, Yoga and Somatic Movement therapies.  She has completed five years of Osteopathic Manual Therapy training and is a thesis candidate.   She is continuing movement and training studies in Somatic Movement, Yoga Therapy, Cranial-Sacral Therapy and Breathing Therapy and Rehabilitation.

In 2018 Wenda presented a lecture at the South Africa Highland Conference, entitled “The Mechanics of Extended High-Cuts … and the Journey to Get There”.  She has presented another Zoom presentation “Building Alignment from the Ground Up” to ScotDance Canada, South Africa and Australian associations which offers training concepts for various ages on the alignment of bones and joints to optimize muscle alignment and strength for Highland dance movements.

Wenda enjoys working with dancers to help create joint and tissue mobility and balanced alignment which hopefully leads toward ease of movement in their dance and less injury. 

CELTFEST 2025 SPRING BREAK HIGHLAND DANCE CAMP & Workshops

 REGISTRATION FORM – Register by Mar 15/25. Late fees after this may apply

Mar 26, 27, 28 @ Dance Unlimited Studios, 5748 Culduthel Rd, VICTORIA

·       9am -3pm- Levels 2 & 3

·       1-3pm- Level 1       Pls email completed form to info@celticperformingarts.com                 

Student’s Name ………………………………………………………………………Age……Level*:…………

*Level 1: Beginner   | Level 2: Pre-Premier [knows 3 Highland, 2 National dances] | Level 3: Adv Intermediate/Premier/ more info below*

Parent/Guardian Name (under 19):………………………………………………..........................................................

Phone (daytime) …………………………………….,,(evening):…………………………………………………………..

Address………………………………………………………………………….….City…………………………………….

Province/Postal……………………………………………..email…….…………………………………………………...

Contact in the event of emergency (in addition to parent above):

Name:…………………………………………………………………Relationship…………………………………………

Their phone number (daytime):……………………………………(evening):……………….……………………………    

 *Classes will be formed by level upon registration. Lindsay Perreault will not be teaching any students who will be competing at the Apr.5 BC Open Championship competition. Daily schedule and list of things to bring, etc. will be emailed to participants the week before camp starts. 

GOOD CONDUCT CONSENT AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY

I understand that for students to learn effectively and remain safe, a standard of good conduct on behalf of all students during the camp will be expected at all times. Any breach of conduct may result in a student being sent home, without any rebate of fees.

I understand that dance poses an element of risk, therefore I will not hold liable the organizers, instructors, or the dance studio venue responsible, should any injury or loss occur.

I attest that I am/my child is medically fit to attend this camp, and/or that I will advise/have advised the Director of any conditions that may potentially pose a health threat. I understand that any medical information submitted is held confidential and is referred to only in the event of the need for professional medical attention.

Further, having read, understood, and completed this form, I hereby release Celtic Performing Arts Inc. its Directors, staff and volunteers, and sponsors of CeltFest 2025 Spring Break Highland Dance Camp & Workshops, from any and all claims which may arise as a result of my/my child’s participation in this event.

Signed:   …………………………………………………………………    Date:…………………………........................

                  Parent or Guardian | Student (over 19)              Print Name ……………………………………………

PHOTO PERMISSION (signature optional)

I permit the taking and use of photos of me/my child for promotional use of CeltFest Vancouver Island events.

                                                                                                                                             (Initials) ................

PAYMENT – Due on Registration

*Levels 2 & 3 (Full days): – for all competitive level dancers Pre-Premier to Premier & Championship level

*Level 1 (1/2 days):– for dancers who know their Highland Fling and elements of their Sword [minimum]

Select ONE (prices include GST):    Includes snacks at breaktime, supplies for crafts

  3-day CAMP: Levels 2 or 3 $297  ____           Set Steps Workshops ONLY: Tues, Wed, 4 hrs. ea day

                 OR Level   1       $180   ____             1 day____ OR 2 days____  OR #_____ hrs x $20/hr= $_____

PAYING by : e-Transfer to info@celticperformingarts.com ___  [preferred] OR  Cheque___ [address below]

INFO:: info@celticperformingarts.com | Cel: (250) 616-1378 | 507 Westview Place, Nanaimo, BC V9V 1B3