Guest Lecturers

Kate fell in love with Highland Dance at the age of 7 and is now grateful for the opportunity to share her passion with others! Over the last 30 years, Kate’s competitive dancing career brought worldwide championship success in every age category. She is a 7–time US Champion and has placed in the top 6 in the World Championships 8 times, including 2 times as First Runner-up. She is the holder of over 100 major championship titles throughout the United States, Canada, Scotland, and Australia. Kate is a Fellow of the BATD and SDTA, an examiner with the BATD, Chairperson of the BATD Great Lakes Region and an R.S.O.B.H.D. Judge and passed the exam at the age of 21. She judges, lectures, and performs internationally.

Kate teaches over 50 dancers from several countries at the Kate DeGood School of Dance in Birmingham, Michigan and remotely. Her students have won many major titles including Regional, Provincial, and the US National Championships and the North American BATD Sadie Simpson Scholarship. Her dancers have performed with several international Tattoo companies including the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Kate enjoys choreographing for professional performances with Fling Together, including NYC Tartan Week. Kate especially enjoys helping Premier dancers advance to Championship level, studying and training candidates in Highland theory, creating choreography, and teaching workshops.

Laura has been involved in Highland Dance since the age of 8. Laura has competed throughout the world for the past 33 years qualifying for the United States Inter Championship 25 years in a row. She has won championship titles throughout the United States and Canada. 

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Her passion and love for dancing does not stop with competing. She created Highland Wellness and Strength in 2016 after adding cross training to her training routine as well as recovering from multiple injuries. The goal is to share her knowledge of self-care , injury prevention and the importance of cross training in a dancers life.  Laura has conducted workshops throughout Canada, the United States, Scotland and Australia. 

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Laura also has her Doctorate in Physical Therapy. She has fifteen years of experience working in outpatient orthopedic settings.  She has taken continuing education courses in taping, dance injuries and methods for treating back pain. She enjoys working with patients of all ages to help them return to doing what they love. 

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Laura is honored to be a part of the World Highland Dancing Conference and is looking forward to a weekend full of learning with colleagues from around the world.  

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Sandy Gribbin is a former champion highland dancer with nearly 30 years of competitive experience worldwide. She has been a teacher and member of the British Association of Teachers of Dance for 25 years. Sandy holds a bachelor's degree in Exercise Science from Meredith College and a master's degree in Exercise Physiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is an ACSM Clinical Exercise Physiologist and an ACE Certified Personal Trainer.

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Sandy leveraged her extensive knowledge as a dancer and trainer to develop her company, Fit for Reel by Studiofit®, which helps dancers build strength, power, stamina, and technique while reducing the risk of overuse injuries. Fit for Reel by Studiofit® has a global outreach, offering personalized programs, workshops, and cross-training videos to dancers and teachers, to help eliminate muscle imbalances and keep dancers performing at their best.

In addition to her role as a dance trainer, Sandy is the Dance Director and Choreographer for the Highland Echoes Show, which showcases Scottish music, dance, and culture. She resides in Maryland, USA, with her husband, two sons, and two lovable pups.

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I am honoured and delighted to be invited to lecture at the World Highland Dancing Conference in Las Vegas.

Throughout my successful Highland dancing career, I won all the major titles, including the Scottish Championship at Cowal seven times and the Juvenile World Championship in 1989. Dancing gave me the incredible opportunity to travel the world, form lifelong friendships, and develop invaluable life lessons. The dedication, commitment, and passion I found in Highland dancing have shaped me into the person I am today.

I am a member of the SDTA and BATD and serve on the RSOBHD worldwide judging panel. Judging the World Championships four times was an incredible experience—though I think I was more nervous judging than I ever was competing! Currently, I teach a small Highland class within a Dancentre that offers a variety of dance styles.

Beyond dance, I have been a practicing psychologist for over 20 years, specializing in self-regulation through breathwork. My professional doctorate focuses on the power of breathing in managing mental well-being. In addition, I have been a yoga instructor for 15 years, blending my expertise in psychology and movement to promote a holistic approach to health. I strongly believe that everyone needs a mental health toolbox to navigate life’s challenges.

For fun, I stay very active and competitive! I have run 27 marathons across the world—and I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. I truly believe that training the mind and body to be the best version of itself is the key to longevity and well-being.

Deborah studied dance along with her four sisters in the Toronto area. She studied ballet, tap and jazz in addition to her Highland Dance specialization. Her academic background includes a degree in Physical and Health Education from the University of Toronto and a business diploma from Ryerson College. 

Deborah taught both dancing and Human Biology for many years. She combined these two passions with her knowledge of training principles and wrote a book for dancers, which was published in 1997. This book aids the dancer in the development of both psychological and physical skills necessary to advance potential into reality. 

Deborah’s dancers have won Provincial, Canadian, USIR and International Championships including Commonwealth and Scottish Open titles.  She was awarded Independent Membership from ScotDance Canada and currently chairs both SDC’s Education and Development and the Recognition Committees. She is very interested in SDC’s legislation, policies, and procedures especially advocating for inclusion and equality. She is dedicated to creating opportunities for members to develop their potential within our dance community. 

Deborah is excited and honoured to be participating in the World Highland Dancing Conference 2025. 

Originally from Canada, Delma was a Canadian Champion before making Scotland her home in 1993. This year marks an incredible 53 years of teaching, a true testament to her dedication and influence in the world of Highland dancing.

A highly respected figure in the dance community, Delma is a member of the SDTA, an examiner for the UKA, and a judge for the RSOBHD. Her passion for competitive Highland dancing is unparalleled—her students have claimed an astonishing 17 World Championship titles under her expert guidance.

Beyond competition, Delma’s dancers have performed at some of the world’s most prestigious events, including the Queen’s Jubilee, the ceremony marking Prince Edward’s appointment as the Earl of Forfar, and at Braemar for Queen Elizabeth and King Charles.

With a lifetime of experience and an unmatched legacy in the sport, Delma is thrilled to be part of the 2025 World Highland Dancing Conference, where she will share her knowledge and passion with dancers from around the globe.

Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, David moved to Scotland at the age of four, where his journey in Highland dancing began. He started dancing at just five years old under Linda Napier in Arbroath before continuing his training with Frances Paterson in Forfar. His talent was undeniable—at the age of seven, he entered his first championship and won, marking the beginning of an extraordinary competitive career.

David went on to secure 192 championship titles, including seven World Championship titles, with much of his training guided by his mother, Delma Wilson. As a Fellow of the United Kingdom Alliance and the Scottish Dance Teachers Alliance, David shares his extensive knowledge and experience with dancers worldwide as an instructor and lecturer.

Beyond the dance world, David is also an accomplished professional bagpiper. He serves as the Pipe Major and full-time piping instructor at the High School of Dundee, one of Scotland’s leading independent schools. Under his leadership, the band won the Novice B World Pipe Band Championships in 2022 and was named Champion of Champions in 2024. Previously, he worked as a full-time instructor at The National Piping Centre in Glasgow and, in 2021, was appointed Pipe Major of the Grade 1 Police Scotland Fife Pipe Band.

David now resides in Arbroath, Scotland, with his wife Clare and daughter Caoimhe, who will be joining him in Las Vegas for the 2025 World Highland Dancing Conference. We are beyond excited to welcome David and his family to this incredible event!

We will continue to post special guests as they are confirmed !