Now in Sherwood Park.  Offering lessons for young beginners, aged 6 and over.  Our phone number is no longer available, meanwhile, you can still contact us by  email:

Strathcona School of Dancing

Emai: info@danceatstrathcona.com

MEET OUR STAFF

Strathcona School of Dancing was founded in 1995 by Bill Troock, Kelly Abrahart and Jacques Bourgouin.  Jacques has since focused his efforts on teaching Ballet at the Edmonton School of Ballet.

BILL TROOCK, Highland Teacher

Born and raised in Edmonton Alberta, Bill has been an active teacher, adjudicator and choreographer for over 30 years. His students have won many championship titles throughout North America and Scotland, including three Canadian Inter-Provincial titles. In addition, his students have successfully finished in the top six in the Juvenile, Junior and Adult World Championships.

Bill began dancing at the age of 6 with Pat Horlor. Over the years, his teachers have included Kathryn Horlor, Angus MacKenzie, Heather McGregor and Evelyn Jones.

He is a Member of the World Wide Judges’ Panel of the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing (S.O.B.H.D.); a Fellow and Examiner with the Scottish Dance Teachers’ Alliance (S.D.T.A.); a Member with the British Association of Teachers of Dancing (B.A.T.D.); Independent Member of ScotDance Canada and Honorary Life Member of the Alberta Highland Dancing Association.

In 1986 & 2000, he chaired the ScotDance Canada Championship Series held in Edmonton. Bill continues to plays an active role in ScotDance Canada as the National Chair for Competition Organizers and an Advisory Committee member. He also serves on the Executive of the Edmonton Highland Dancing Association and Highland Dance Teachers & Judges of Alberta.

Bill has traveled extensively throughout Canada, United States, Australia, South Africa and Scotland adjudicating, examining and conducting workshops. In 2006, Bill traveled to New Zealand to conduct workshops and had the honour of judging their first SOBHD Open Championship and then again in 2007 judged the first New Zealand National Championship.

In 1995 along with his teaching partners Kelly Abrahart and Jacques Bourgouin, they opened the Strathcona School of Dancing where they continue to teach together. In addition to his dancing, Bill is currently employed by Sabre Inc. as the Senior National Sales Manager.

KELLY ABRAHART, Highland Teacher

Kelly is a Fellow of the SDTA, a Member of BATD, and a member of the SOBHD judge’s panel since 1996. She is also the provincial representative of the ScotDance Canada Judges Committee.

As a dancer, Kelly competed since the age of four, winning several major competitions and championships, including the Alberta Provincials 4 times, and finished 1^st runner up at the Canadian Championship in 1980 and 1981.

Kelly has been co-owner, with Bill Troock and Jacques Bourgouin, of the Strathcona School of Dancing since 1995. Over the years, their students have won many championship titles in Canada, the U.S. and Scotland, including the Provincial, Canadian and British Overseas championship, as well as several top 6 finishes at the World Championships. They also enjoy doing choreography and have had several performing opportunities including shows with Natalie McMaster, the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and local ban, Celtic Fusion Illusion.

Kelly currently lives in Sherwood Park with her husband, Heinz, and two daughters, Ashley and Lauren.

BARB PROWSE, Studio Administrator

Studio Administrator since 2003, Barb’s experience in Highland Dancing comes from being a parent of four children involved over the years. A member of Edmonton Highland dancing Association since 1987, Barb has served on the executive for many years as President, Competition Secretary and currently, as Membership Chair. As a delegate to Alberta Highland Dancing Association; Barb has also held the position of Competition Secretary for the Provincial Championships several times and acted as President for three years. She was the competition secretary for SDCCS 2012 held at West Edmonton Mall. A Life Member of Edmonton Highland Dancing Association, Barb remains actively involved in the marking room and provides marking room training to volunteers n the area.

She brings these experiences and her organizing skills to the studio to keep parents better informed on all the studio happenings and Highland events.

Barb lives on an acreage several miles east of Sherwood Park, and when she is not at the studio or a Highland event, is often at an Arabian Horse show. She lives with her husband, Cameron, who has been piping for dancers at local and provincial competitions for many years.