Bill Troock
Born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, Bill has dedicated over 40 years to Highland dancing as a teacher, adjudicator, examiner, and choreographer. His students have achieve remarkable success, winning numerous championship titles across North America and Scotland, including four Canadian Championship titles. Many have also placed in the top six at the World Championships in the Juvenile, Junior, and Adult categories.
Bill’s passion for Highland dance began at a young age under the guidance of his first teacher, Pat Horlor. Over the years, he trained with esteemed mentors, including former World Champion Angus MacKenzie, as well as Heather McGregor and Evelyn Jones.
A highly respected figure in the Highland dance community, Bill is a member of the worldwide Judges’ Panel for the Royal Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing (R.S.O.B.H.D.), a Fellow, Examiner, Technical Advisor, and Life Member of the Scottish Dance Teachers’ Alliance (S.D.T.A.), an Independent Member of ScotDance Canada, and an Honorary Life Member of the Alberta Highland Dancing Association.
Bill has played a pivotal role in shaping the future of Highland dance through leadership and event organization. He is the immediate Past President of ScotDance Canada and the Edmonton Highland Dancing Association. He has co-directed the World Highland Dancing Conference in 2011, 2015, and the
upcoming 2025 event. Additionally, he chaired the ScotDance Canada Championship Series in 1986, 2000, and 2012 when it was hosted in Edmonton.
His expertise has taken him around the world, adjudicating, examining, and conducting workshops in Canada, the United States, Australia, South Africa, and Scotland. In 2006, he travelled to New Zealand to conduct workshops and had the honour of judging the country’s first RSOBHD Championship, returning in 2007 to adjudicate the inaugural New Zealand National Championship.
Since 1995, Bill and his teaching partner, Kelly Abrahart, have led the Strathcona School of Dancing, where they continue to train and inspire the next generation of Highland dancers. In addition to his contributions to
the dance world, Bill works full-time as the Senior Sales Manager for North America at Tres Technologies.
Kelly Abrahart
Kelly Abrahart has been a member of the RSOBHD Judges Panel since 1996 and is honored to be an Examiner with the SDTA, as well as a Life Member of the Edmonton Highland Dancing Association. Kelly has had the opportunity to travel across Canada, the US, Australia, and Scotland, judging and conducting workshops or as a parent with her 2 daughters. Kelly also had a long career as a dancer, winning several championships and finishing runner up at the Canadian Championships in 1980 and 1981.
In 1995, she and business partner Bill Troock opened the Strathcona School of Dancing. Their students have won championships at many levels, including the Provincial, Canadian, Scottish, and Commonwealth Championships, as well as top 3 finishes at the World Championships. They are proud to have consistently sent Alberta representatives to the Canadian Championships every year in their over 30 years teaching together.
Kelly works full time for the Government of Alberta and lives with her husband and their 2 girls.
Lauren Abrahart
Lauren Abrahart has been dedicated to the sport of Highland dancing from a young age, training under esteemed instructors Bill Troock and her mum, Kelly Abrahart. Over the years, she has developed a deep passion for the discipline, and now hopes to share her experience and knowledge with the next generation of dancers.
Lauren has had the honour of representing Alberta and Canada at the highest levels of competition, travelling across Canada, the United States, Australia, and Scotland. A career highlight came in 2023 when she placed 3rd overall in the Junior World Highland Dancing Championships.
Currently enrolled at the University of Alberta, Lauren is pursuing a degree in Nutrition. With a strong interest in health and body wellness, she believes her academic background will be an asset in helping dancers achieve both technical excellence and physical well-being.
Lauren is excited to begin this new chapter as a teacher, drawing on her lifelong involvement in Highland dance and her journey as a high-performance athlete.