Elma is a Life Member, Fellow and Examiner of the B.A.T.D. and is a Member of the Stage & Ballet Committee. Elma started dancing at the age of 2 and a half years and in 1966 she opened her own dance school and now runs her own highly successful private dance studio with many of her pupils teaching and performing throughout the world. For several years now Elma and her pupils regularly appear on Cbeebies TV programme. Her studio has been proud to receive for several consecutive years now a certificate of excellence from the Stage Dance Council International.
Christine has been dancing since the age of 2 1/2years, winning the Scottish Championship at Cowal in 1957. She is the Principal of the Christine E. Aitken Academy of Dance in Paisley & Johnstone and has been teaching for 38years, Chairman of the Association’s Highland Committee and member of the Stage and Ballet Committee. She has been for many years a delegate of the Association on the SOBHD and also their Technical Committee. She is also Vice Chairman of the Scottish West Region. Christine is an Examiner with the B.A.T.D. and also S.O.B.H.D. Adjudicator.
Diane MacPhee Krugh is a Life Member, Fellow and Examiner of the BATD in Highland and National and has been a Member of the BATD for 43 years.
For the past 38 years Diane has been the Dance Director at St. Thomas’ Episcopal School in Houston, Texas, where she teaches Highland Dancing full time with her sister Donna Cusack (BATD Examiner).
Seven of their students have won twenty-five United States Championship titles. Seven of their students have placed in the top six overall places in the Juvenile, Junior, and Adult World Championship twelve times.
Diane is the National Registrar for FUSTA. She is also the Co-Chair for the BATD North American Sadie Simpson Scholarships and Highland Weekend. Diane is an SOBHD Adjudicator and has adjudicated at many competitions and Championships all over the United States, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and Scotland and travels on a regular basis conducting workshops.
Diane is honored to have been voted at the BATD Conference 2019, to serve as an Executive Council Member. Diane lives in Houston, Texas with her husband John.
Trustees
Shelagh started her tutorage with her mother Miss Trixie Hardy and she has been teaching for the past 42 years in both Canada and the U.S.A. Miss Connolly is a Fellow and Examiner for the B.A.T.D. Stage Branches and a Life Member. She currently serves as Trustee for the Association and the North American Coordinator for the Stage and Ballet Branches. Miss. Connolly was the first North American to be elected to the Executive Council, and has since served as Vice President and President for the BATD. Miss Connolly introduced the jazz syllabus to the association and continues to promote its growth both in the United Kingdom and Canada. Shelagh now resides in Virginia USA where she is currently on staff at Forest Dance Academy.
Miss Christine Lacey MBE
Christine was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2014 New Years honours list for services to Scottish Highland Dancing.
Christine was elected Chairman of the World Governing Body for Highland Dancing in November 2006 – now known as The Royal Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing.
Christine was awarded the prestigious Atholl Clasp Award from The Atholl Dancing Association in November 2019.
Christine is also a Trustee and Examiner of The British Association of Teachers of Dancing as well as an International Adjudicator on The Royal Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing.
Among Christine’s many competitive credits are, six times World Highland Dancing Champion. Although well renowned in the world of Highland Dancing, Christine has also achieved recognition in both Tap and Ballet. She has held the titles of British Senior Ballet Champion; Scottish Junior and Senior Ballet Champion; Scottish Junior and Senior Tap Champion. Collectively, in all three disciplines she has accumulated over 250 Championship Titles.
She is always in great demand lecturing, examining and adjudicating all over the world.
Christine was trained at the Stewart School of Dancing in Alexandria, Scotland. Christine’s teachers at the School were – Miss Jessie Stewart Haggarty MBE, Miss Agnes Stewart and Mrs Nancy Haggarty Gibbons. Christine is most indebted to all three ladies for giving her the skills and the passion she has for Dance.
She now teaches dance full time and is thoroughly enjoying being able to devote her time and expertise to the dancing world.
Christine is happily married to Donald MacPhee who is a well-known piper and RSPBA Adjudicator.
Helen trained at the Sadie Simpson School of Dancing in Glasgow and later performed professionally in several stage shows in the Kings and Pavilion Theatres. She is also a licentiate of the London College of Music in Speech and Drama. Helen has held several offices within the Association and was President from 1991-95. She is also an examiner in the Theatre Branches and enjoys teaching.
Diana started dancing at the age of 6 years, took her first professional exam in her early twenties, and worked as a professional dancer in various cabarets. Diana was employed at N.R. Rothchild & Sons Merchant Bank in the internal audit department and later expanded her knowledge at the Halifax Building Society. Diana is the Managing Director of her Dance Studio, training pupils to a professional standard in performance and Teacher qualifications, with many pupils now working in the industry all across the globe. Diana is a Fellow, Examiner and Life Member of the B.A.T.D. She was Vice President of the Association from 2019-2023 and is now the current Treasurer and member of the Executive Council. Diana is a member of the Rules committee, conference committee and delegate for the SRA, TDCI plus the third level designated Child Protection Officer for England. She is the Chairman of the B.A.T.D. London region and was a past member of the Standardisation committee.
Mark began working at Head Office in 2002 as an office assistant. After many years of growth and working on different aspects for the association as time and technology moved forward so did Marks role. Working closer with Katrina Allan as she neared retirement and then taking up the position of General Secretary on 1st September 2023. Mark hopes to continue the good work of my predecessor and that the Association goes from strength to strength.
Executive Council
Howard is a past Vice President of the Association and is currently a member of the Executive Council, Ballroom Committee and a delegate for the British Dance Council. He is a Fellow and Examiner in the ballroom branches. At District level Howard is Chairman of the North West Area. Along with his wife Joanne, they have won many inventive dance competitions, including two wins at the prestigious Blackpool Dance Festival. For many years Howard has been Compare of the BATD Inventive Dance Competition which is held at Conference. He also assists in the running of the Association’s North West Area Medallist Competition.
Miss Gayle Johnson
Vice President 2018/2019. Current member of the Executive Council, Fellow and Examiner for the B.A.T.D Stage branches. Gayle is a life member of the Association. A previous delegate of the T.D.C.I. for a number of years and has served many years on the stage and ballet technical committee. Gayle has run a prestigious dance school offering all genres of dance, thus making her aware of the ever changing youth of today. As a full member of the I.T.D.A she also an All England and British Federation Adjudicator, her dedication and encouragement ensures professional development at all times.
