Jody was raised in Foremost, Alberta, and her journey into Scottish country dancing began after college when she attended her first class in Medicine Hat. She was instantly captivated by the vibrant energy and community spirit of the dance. This passion led her to pursue formal training, earning her Level 1 Certificate in 2006 and her Level 2 Certificate in 2008 at the Teachers' Association of Canada (T.A.C.) Summer School.
After moving to Ontario, Jody became an integral part of the Scottish country dancing community. She has taught various levels of classes with the RSCDS Ottawa Branch and the affiliated Ardbrae group. Currently, she is nurturing a new class in Pembroke, ON, where she finds immense satisfaction in teaching newcomers.
Jody's experiences have taken her around Canada and the USA to teach weekend workshops, at Pinewoods camp and return to the T.A.C. Summer School as an instructor. Her commitment to the community extended to serving on the T.A.C. committee, where she was the Director of Summer School for four years, organizing events in various locations across the USA and Canada.
Since Covid, Jody has found a renewed appreciation for the social interaction that makes Scottish country dancing truly magical. For her, it is this social connection that brings the dance to life, creating a unique blend of excellent music and camaraderie that is unmatched by any other activity.
Arthur discovered Scottish country dancing as a young adult and was instantly hooked by its combination of thrilling music, intricate patterns, and aerobic exercise. He started dancing in Los Angeles and was a member of the Los Angeles Branch demonstration team before moving back east. Since completing the RSCDS teaching certificate at St. Andrews in 2016, Arthur has taught dancers of all levels in several states along the east coast. Using music as inspiration for teaching steps, patterns, and dances as well as uncovering historical trends in dance and music are areas of interest that inform his teaching and enjoyment of the dance. He looks forward to sharing those interests with you at Midwest Scottish Weekend!
Karen & Alastair both hail from the far North of Scotland, where they grew up learning amongst some well-known musicians such as Addie Harper (of The Wick Scottish Dance Band), Bobby Coghill, and Ian Sinclair, who led the folk group Mirk. The twinning of the Scottish Highlands with Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia in 1986, resulted in the two travelling to Cape Breton as part of a 3-week tour with the high school group The Caithness Junior Fiddlers. Scholarships to attend the Valley of the Moon fiddle camp followed. It was there that Karen was introduced to the phenomenal playing and teaching of Alasdair Fraser, Buddy MacMaster, Martin Hayes (Ireland) and Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh (Altan). A 1997 scholarship from The Cross Trust enabled Karen to return to Canada to carry out the research for her degree dissertation. Other opportunities have included playing for former president Bill Clinton at Carnegie’s Skibo Castle in Scotland and teaching at Norway's mid-winter dance festival, Trondheim. Karen has taught alongside Alasdair Fraser at Celtic Connections festival, Glasgow, and Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Isle of Skye, and has performed at the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention festivals over the years. She has a strong, rhythmic style of fiddle playing, influenced by her highland dance training.
Karen gained her teaching certificate from the United Kingdom Alliance in 1988. She enjoys writing music for and playing for many Scottish dance styles including Scottish country dance, highland dance, highland dance choreography, stepdance, and ceilidh dancing.
Alastair played regularly for dances across Scotland and the North of England with Addie Harper’s Scottish Dance Band for many years, but more recently supporting Scottish accordion champion Brandon McPhee on concert tours and recordings. In addition to playing accordion, Alastair has also been known to turn his hand to keyboards and piano playing. He has a keen interest in sound engineering and collaborated with Karen in 2022 in the making of an international recording which was a fundraiser for a children’s hospital in Glasgow. Thirty-eight musicians from four countries took part in the project, which raised $2000 for the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity.
Together, Karen and Alastair play a range of music influenced by their Scottish roots – Strathspeys, reels, jigs, marches and airs – Scottish – Canadian – self composed, contemporary and traditional tunes. Playing for Scottish country dance workshops, socials, and tartan balls, as well as performing concert sets appeals to the duo. While they enjoy the discipline required for playing for SCD, they equally enjoy the opportunity to explore arrangements for listening.