Dance Teachers
Graham Donald, Cardiff, Wales
Graham Donald joined the RSCDS over 20 years ago when he was living in his home town of Edinburgh, Scotland and he danced with the Demonstration team there for a number of years. More recently he has been teaching at day and weekend schools across the UK, including the Winter School in Pitlochry as well as in Europe, North America and most recently at the New Zealand Summer School.
In addition to dancing and teaching he is on the approved Adjudicator's list for the RSCDS and adjudicate at junior and adult festivals in the UK. He also completed the Tutor training course with the RSCDS in 2008 and is presently taking a candidate class in South Wales for all 5 units.
He is also a qualified teacher of Highland Dancing and has competed at many competitions including the World Championships in Scotland. He always believes "that we just need to remember that dancing remains fun and is not to be taken too seriously."
Away from dancing he has worked at a senior level in financial services in the UK for many years and he was also involved in a new business start up in financial services. He is presently working for a mobile phone business and as an Executive Coach.
Rebecca Blackhall-Peters, Vancouver, BC
Rebecca was born and raised in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia. She trained in classical ballet and earned her Advanced Certificate in the Royal Academy of Dancing. She has worked as Artistic Director of the Valley Dance Company and taught Ballet and Jazz.
In the 1995 Rebecca took up SCD in Vancouver and earned her Teacher's Certificate in 2001. Currently she teaches at the Vancouver Branch, as well as a General Class in Fort Langley and Children's classes. She was a core teacher at the TAC Summer School in 2006.
Mel Briscoe, Alexandria VA
Mel Briscoe began Scottish country dancing in 1977, danced with the Boston Branch demonstration team from 1979 to 1986, and moved to northern Virginia (near Washington DC) in 1987. He received his Preliminary Pass in 1982 at the Teacher's Association of Canada summer course from John Middleton at Brock University in Ontario, where he also met his wife, Ellie. Mel returned to Brock in 1984 for his Teacher's Certificate training from June Shore.
He has taught classes and workshops throughout Canada and the United States, in Japan, and in Australia; he primarily enjoys dances done well, by dancers having fun, to music that is great.
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