49th Annual Workshop and Ball
April 11, 2026 Edelweiss Club, Victoria
To register, use one of the buttons below
9:30 to 11:30 am- Experienced Class
For experienced dancers who can do dances that include complex formations with just a brief walk-through.
1:00 to 3:00 pm- Beginner/Intermediate Class
For those who are taking basic or intermediate classes and are becoming familiar with simple or common formations and dances.
If you are attending both sessions, please bring your lunch.
Workshop Teacher- Sharon Barker
Sharon was born in Aberdeen, Scotland and moved to Calgary with her family when she was a young child. She started Scottish Country Dancing at the age of 7 and has been a part of many of the classes and demonstration teams in the Calgary area. She has over 45 years of dancing experience.
Sharon received her Preliminary Certificate from the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society in 1998 and her Full Certificate in 2002. Since then, she has been teaching classes in Southern Alberta on a weekly basis. She has also taught at many day and weekend workshops across North America. Sharon tutors dancers to become teachers and loves sharing her passion for Scottish Country Dance with others. In addition to teaching, Sharon has also held several board positions with Calgary Branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, the Scottish Country Dance Teachers’ Association (Canada), and the Education and Training Committee of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society.
Sharon has interests in other forms of Scottish and Irish dance, as well. These include Irish Ceili Dancing, Highland Dancing and Scottish Step Dancing
Workshop Musician- Mary Ross
Mary’s Scottish Heritage contributes to her strong ties to Celtic Music. Highland dancing started at the age of five, and the love of the music steered her towards playing the accordion.
Mary’s musical career has taken her from Greenland to Texas, as well as Scotland, and various Canadian and USA destinations.
Mary is a member of the Van Isle SCD Society and the RSCDS Vancouver Branch. She has enjoyed providing music for Scottish Country Dance events in Western Canada and USA since 1991.
In addition to Scottish Music Mary has been an accompanist to the Victoria Police Chorus since 2000. She is an accordion instructor and will be adjudicating the Alberta Accordion Association Festival June 2024. Mary also enjoys playing a variety of styles of music for private functions and senior residences and is a member of the Victoria Accordion Club.
And then- there’s the ball with Mary Ross and Friends!
The ball, semi-formal, is also held at the Edelweiss Club, 104 Niagara Street
Doors open 6:45, Grand March 7:20, First dance 7:30
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Music by Mary Ross and Friends: let’s meet her friends!
Janet Rendell studied piano and conducting at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music. After receiving her education qualification, Janet went to the Orkney Island to teach music and become involved in the rich musical life there.
Ready for more adventure, Janet moved to Canada in 1981, living in Edmonton, Calgary and White Rock before moving to Victoria. Janet has always been involved in music professionally as accompanist, singer, conductor and piano teacher.
Janet is the music director of the Greater Victoria Police Chorus and the Maritime Museum of BC Salty Singers group.
She is delighted to be involved in this special event with the Vancouver Island Scottish Country Dance Society
Kate Rhodes
Immersed in studying and performing classical violin, voice and piano since childhood, Kate has been a member of both the Vancouver and Winnipeg
Symphony Orchestras. Since moving to Victoria, she has been an active freelance musician, performing with Victoria Symphony, Raven Baroque, Sooke Philharmonic, Victoria Chamber Orchestra, as well as playing
chamber music (often with Allyn). Kate enjoys exploring music traditions other than classical, and has delved into fiddle and accordion, has lead a mandolin orchestra and continues to perform with the folk/world music acoustic quartet Steluta.
Allyn Chard
A classically trained violinist and violin teacher, Allyn became enchanted
with Scottish music after moving from Victoria, BC to Antigonish, NS
where she spent many weekends attending competitions with her two Highland Dancing daughters. Since returning to Victoria 20 years ago, she teaches at the Victoria Conservatory of Music and in her home studio as well as playing in the Victoria Chamber Orchestra and the Sooke Philharmonic. Allyn first met Kate in Banff when they both played in the Canadian Chamber Orchestra and their musical journeys have intersected many times since. Allyn is delighted to be playing with both Mary and Kate, stretching her roots in the Scottish tradition.