Miss Hali Duncan

Hali has been Highland dancing since the age of four, beginning her lessons in Regina, Saskatchewan. She completed her practical examinations through the Scottish Dance Teachers’ Alliance (SDTA) and successfully achieved her Highland Member’s certification with the British Association of Teachers of Dancing (BATD) in 2010. Hali also holds a degree in Kinesiology (the study of human movement) from the University of Alberta and completed her Master’s in Counselling in 2020.

Her performance experience includes dancing with the Alberta Caledonia Pipe Band and the Kimberley Pipe Band, with training in Highland, ballet, and hip hop.

As a teacher, Hali has had the joy of seeing her dancers compete across Canada and the United States, achieving strong results at the provincial level, earning multiple nominations for the Sadie Simpson Scholarships, and even celebrating a dancer who placed 1st runner-up at the scholarship competition. She has a particular passion for choreography and looks forward to sharing her love of dance with all those she teaches.

 Miss Lorna Thackrey

Lorna’s Highland dance journey began in Ontario under the instruction of Lorraine Wallace-Symington. After moving to Calgary, she trained with Judith Marshall Schey for 20 years. Following Judy’s untimely passing, Lorna was honored to take on the leadership of the Judy Schey School of Highland Dancing, a role she held for nearly two decades.

She is a Member of the Scottish Dance Teachers’ Alliance (SDTA), and is also an active member of ScotDance Canada. Lorna served as an organizer for the 2018 ScotDance Canada Championship Series (SDCCS) and currently holds the position of Professional Registrar for ScotDance BC. In addition, she was a dedicated member of the Calgary Highland Games committee for over 20 years and was proudly made a lifetime member in 2018.

Throughout her career, dance has gifted Lorna with lifelong friendships, meaningful connections with dancers and their families, and opportunities to travel and compete across Canada, the United States, and Scotland. She remains passionate about sharing her love of Highland dance with future generations.