Throughout my journey with dance so far, I have had the opportunity to meet and work with many incredible instructors, creators and dancers. There are special bonds created while we dancers and artists express emotions, feelings and ideas together.
Below are some of the special connections and friendships that have helped shape me as a dancer and a person. Each of these special friendships has had a positive impact on my dancing, creativity, discipline and determination
Rosemary Breman started dancing at the age of 8, at the Ayr School of Dance in Scotland, where she studied and trained until she moved to Canada in 1981. This is where she continued her training in dance and opened the Rosemary Breman School of Dancing in Carleton Place, ON.
The Rosemary Breman School of Dancing is where my passion for dance all began. Friendships and memories were created during the many years I danced and trained with the Rosemary Breman School of Dancing.
Rosemary herself was an amazing inspiration for me and through her friendship, coaching and instruction she taught me to believe in myself and to work hard for what I wanted. Sadly, Rosemary passed away October 09, 2020.
Ellen Cameron Maloney – Ellen Cameron Highland Dancers
At a very early age Ellen Cameron became interested in Highland dancing. Her first teacher, Mary Saunders, immediately saw her potential. Once she had mastered the basics, Ellen began competing in local competitions where she won numerous local awards. But Ellen, very competitive, wanted to compete on the provincial and national level. Ellen, at the age of nine, began to travel monthly to Toronto in order to learn from the pros. It soon paid off and Ellen began to make her dancing abilities known well beyond the S D & G borders. She competed until the age of 16 along the way winning Ontario, Canadian and British Overseas championships among many other titles.
My relationship with Ellen is still new but it feels like we have know each other for a very long time already. Ellen tailors her training to the individual needs of each dancer and I am excited to continue training with Ellen in the future.
Jeff Dimitriou – Choreographer, Entertainment Director and Creator
Megahouse Industry choreographer, director, and artist Jeff Dimitriou, is renowned for the energy and passion he instills within and around artistic projects that include Film, Television, World Ceremonies, Theatre, Live events, and Art Installations.
I first met Jeff at a weekend dance workshop. After the workshop I felt an immediate connection and desire to work with him again. His energy and positivity was infectious.
I started participating in Jeff’s mentorship program several years later. Next, we worked together to create a tribute for my friend, dancer and coach, Rosemary Breman.
Jeff brings out my inner emotions and makes me work outside my regular comfort zone in my dancing. He is highly positive, extremely creative and I feel privileged to have been able to work with such a talented artist. I anticipate future projects and workshops with Jeff and can’t wait to dance with him again soon.
Linda began dancing at the age of 5 after immigrating from Scotland. She quickly became accomplished in ballet, jazz, tap, musical theatre and of course, Highland Dancing. By age 17 she had won 12 Championships including Ontario 4 times, Canadian 4 times, The U.S. Open, Scottish Championship and The British Open before winning gold at the World Championships in Scotland.
Her extensive Ballet, Jazz, Tap and Musical Theatre training includes 12 years of Professional training with Broadway Choreographers, Karin Baker of “42nd Street”, Lisa Gennaro-Evans, “A Little Night Music”, Peter Gennaro “West Side Story”, and Chris Chadman, “Guys & Dolls”. This instruction from her friends and mentors on Broadway led Mrs. Jamieson to choreograph 30 musicals for Earl of March Secondary School in Kanata.
Recently, the Linda Jamieson School of Dance (LJSD) performed the 25th Anniversary Performance of the Nutcracker (2021). I had the privilege to dance as Sugar Plum and several other roles in the beginning of December. Classes at LJSD are fun but disciplined and I have learned and developed so much in a short period of time. I am eager to continue my training with Linda Jamieson and Ms. Andrews.
Victoria is a champion standard premier highland dancer from Beckwith, Ontario. She began dancing at three years old with Rosemary Breman in Carleton Place. Victoria now trains with Ellen Cameron Maloney / Ellen Cameron Highland Dancers in St Andrews ON.
Victoria is an accredited highland dancing teacher with the British Association of Teachers of Dance (B.A.T.D.) and a professional member of ScotDance Canada and ScotDance Ontario. In addition to highland dancing, Victoria has trained in Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Modern. Before completing her professional examination, Victoria was also nominated as a scholarship candidate for B.A.T.D. in highland, ballet, modern/jazz and tap. She competed at the B.A.T.D. North American Sadie Simpson Highland Scholarships, from 2015 to 2019 (San Diego, Toronto, Nashville, Banff and Washington DC) and was annually awarded with top placings.
Victoria has a passion for performing and she loves to travel. She enjoys sharing highland dancing with others at local community events and at international military tattoos. Victoria has danced for the Basel Tattoo in Switzerland, first with the Canadiana Celtic Elite Dance Team in 2018, and again in 2019 as a member of the International Basel Tattoo Team. She is also a member of the prestigious Tattoo Dance Company for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (REMT), dancing in Edinburgh and Australia in 2019.
Victoria continues to compete, perform and teach highland dancing, while also pursuing her undergraduate degree fulltime at the University of Ottawa, in the BA Honours Psychology degree program, in French Immersion.
Victoria and I train twice a week together. So far, the journey has been fun and lots of hard work and I look forward to working even harder in the upcoming term.