Highland Dancing

Highland Dancing Overview

Students through the eighth grade receive instruction in Scottish Highland dancing and may elect to continue above that level. The program provides a unique way for students to receive the benefits of a superior form of physical exercise, to promote personal grace and precise muscle control, and to develop a sense of rhythm and coordination between body and mind.

Students also may elect to take after-school dance instruction to prepare for dance competitions both in the United States and internationally.

Competitive Dance

In the upper grades the advanced class, which is designed for experienced dancers who wish to compete and perform outside of school, meets on Mondays and Wednesdays after school. Competitive dancers typically participate at highland games in Salado, Houston, and Arlington. Our dancers also perform for the annual Burns Dinner, Dickens on the Strand, and for various elementary school and church groups in the Houston area.

St. Thomas' dancers are trained to compete at the local, regional, national, and international levels. STE has produced 22 U.S. champions, 14 first runners up, and 7 second runners up. On seven separate occasions our dancers have finished in the top six at the World Championships held in Scotland, and in 1997 at St. Thomas' student, Michelle Cumagun, won the Juvenile World Championships.