Kathleen has been dancing for nearly 25 years having started as an Irish dancer at Halifax Dance at 16. In her second year she began Highland dance under the instruction of Ruth Thurston at Highland at Heart School of Dance as a means of helping technique for Irish dancing. Kathleen returned to Irish dancing in 2020 and competes at the Novice and Prizewinner levels. She also has her Grade 5 with An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha.
Kathleen's competitive highlights include competing and placing 4th Runner Up and 5th Runner Up at the Nova Scotia Closed Provincial Championships, 1st Runner Up at the Atlantic Canadian Open Championships, as well as placings at the New Scotland Open Championships. in 2008 Kathleen competed at the Canadian Championships in Vicoria, BC as a member of Team Nova Scotia. Kathleen has competed and performed across Canada, in Cuba in 2004 and 2010, Scotland and Northern Ireland in 2005 and in 2011 competed in the North American Championships. Kathleen has performed with several different groups including Scotia Spirit, Katharine Robinson Highland Dancers, and Celtica Highland Dancers. In August 2018, Kathleen had the pleasure of travelling to Scotland once again, this time with her own dancers, to perform for Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth II.
In November 2009 Kathleen took her Associates exam with the Scottish Dance Teacher's Alliance qualifying her as a certified teacher of Highland dance. This certification also allows HSHD's students to compete and partake in examinations. She continues to have a passion for furthering her education and plans to take her Members exam. Kathleen opened Higgins School of Highland Dance the same year and has been teaching in Dartmouth ever since.
Kathleen is a graduate of Saint Mary's University where she earned her Bachelor of Arts with a major in Irish Studies. She currently works at SMU as the Assistant Manager of the Campus Store. Kathleen and Sean have two galgos named Terrance and Campero and a bearded dragon named Orlaith.
Outside of Highland dance, Kathleen and Sean took up learning hockey for the first time as adults in 2024 and can be found playing with the Halifax Mussels 2SLGBTQIA+ & Ally hockey league. Kathleen is a huge advocate for creating space for Adults in sport and continues to work towards more Adult inclusion in Highland dancing.
Simone has been dancing with HSHD since 2015. Simone competes at the Premier level and has enjoyed a successful competitive career, including competing at the Nova Scotia Closed Highland Dance Championships. Simone has performed with HSHD numerous times including in Scotland in 2018 for HRH Queen Elizabeth II at Balmoral Castle. She has been assistant teaching now for several years and hopes to take her Associates.
Simone is also an avid equestrian and compete for the Saint Mary's University equestrian team.