July 2015
Volume 1, Issue 2 July 2015
NewsWorthen
Your newsworthy hub of highland happenings
Happy Summer!
Competition results are coming fast and furious, and our girls are
placing so well it is hard to keep track of all of the medals and
trophies that people have won! These results are from April 26-July
11th, 2015. If I have made any mistakes or omissions please let me
know, I plan to have another newsletter out in September.
So much to report in this newsletter, so much going on. There are
plenty of results to share. We will feature another dancer in the
spotlight in our next edition, but right now we are going to spend a
moment getting to know our leader better. Here is an interview with
the one and only Jennifer Worthen
When did you start
highland dancing?
I started highland dancing at the
age of 7. There was an ad in
the local newspaper and I can
vividly remember my mom
saying, "Jennifer, would you like
to try highland dancing?" I said,
"Sure!" And that was it…I never
looked back.
When did it become your
passion? It became my
passion right away. It was my
number one commitment. Even
during those teenage years, I
was fully committed to working
hard and getting lots of rest
before competitions. Friday
night socializing with friends was not an option prior to competitions.
What good teacher(s) do you model yourself
after? Why?
I have always had a lot of respect for my former dance teacher, Janice
Macquarrie, and still do. I learned so much from Janice, not only as a
dancer, teacher and judge, but also as a person. To this day, I look to
Janice for advice when I need it. I'm so lucky to still have her as my
mentor and friend.
What is the best part of the Worthen school?
The best part of the Worthen School of Highland Dance is the
community we have become. We are, in a sense, our own family and
have made lasting friendships.
What qualities do you appreciate about your students?
There are many qualities I appreciate about my students. They all
come from great families with good values and I admire their
enthusiasm and hard work. I'm very proud of each and every one of
them for being who they are. I love the fact that they always seem
happy when they come to class and have smiles on their faces and
laugh with their friends…I think that's the best part:)
Where do you hope to see the school in 5 years?
In 5 years from now, I hope to see all of my dancers still enjoying
themselves and working to their full potential to be their personal
best. I would love to have a few student teachers so my plan is to train
some of my older dancers to become teachers. This is part of the
reason I highly encourage my students to take medal tests, especially
theory for the older dancers. We currently have 50 dancers with a wait
list of 20. Although I'm thrilled that our school has grown so much and
so fast, it's not possible to grow the school any further at this point until
I have assistance.
What else do you like to do besides highland dancing
(and keeping a fabulous looking house)?
Besides highland dancing, one of my favourite things to do is to walk
my dog (Jax) in Shubie Park. I also have 2 hungry boys who I enjoy
cooking for. Terry and I love going to the rink together to watch Josh
and Brandon play hockey.
If a genie appeared before you and offered to grant
you three wishes what would they be?
My three wishes would be:
For my family and friends to always be healthy
For the world to be a more peaceful place To judge the World Highland
Dancing Championships in Scotland
Thanks Jennifer!
Competition Results
McKinnon Dance by the Shore Competition –
Bridgewater, NS – April 26, 2015
Name
Category
Placing
Anna MacDonald
Primary
Vivian Blackmore
Amelia Sproule
Averie Swantee
Faith Whitehead
Claire Lloyd
Isla Sproule
Kate Singleton
Beginner 7
Beginner 7
Beginner 8
Beginner 8
Beginner 9
Beginner 9
Beginner 9
Annika Cram
Elena Barnett
Lillian Pappas
Tasha Barnett
Jillian Burt
Beginner 9
Beginner 10 & over
Novice 8 & under
Novice 8 & under
Novice 8 & under
Maria MacDonald
Shelbey Rudolph
Rachael Blackmore
Ava Proctor
Novice 8 & under
Novice 8 & under
Novice 9 & 10
Novice 9 & 10
Charlotte Smith
Intermediate 10 & under
Claire Smith
Intermediate 13 & over
2nd PDB, 2nd PDB & Hicuts,
3rd Fling, 1st Sword
2nd Fling, 3rd ST, 2nd Lilt
3rd Sword, 2nd ST
3rd Lilt
1st Fling, 2nd Sword, 2nd ST
3rd Sword, 3rd ST
3rd Lilt
2nd Fling, 2nd Sword, 1st ST,
1st Lilt – High Aggregate
Trophy Winner
3rd Fling, 2nd Lilt
2nd Fling, 4th sword
4th Fling, 1st Lilt
5th Fling
5th Fling, 5th Sword, 3rd ST,
4th Lilt
5th ST, 5th Lilt
2nd Sword, 2nd ST
3rd Sword, 3rd ST
2nd Fling, 1st Sword, 1st ST –
High Aggregate Trophy Winner
2nd Fling, 1st Laddie, 1st
Hornpipe – High Aggregate
Trophy Winner
2nd Fling, 1st Laddie, 1st
Barracks, 2nd Hornpipe – High
Aggregate Trophy Winner
BATD Festival of Dance –
Halifax, NS – May 2-3, 2015
Name
Category
Placing
Anna MacDonald
Primary
Faith Whitehead
Beginner 8 & under
Averie Swantee
Beginner 8 & under
Vivian Blackmore
Kate Singleton
Beginner 8 & under
Beginner 9
Claire Lloyd
Beginner 9
Annika Cram
Beginner 9
Jenna Fryc
Kate Johnston
Beginner 9
Beginner 11 & under
Elena Barnett
Beginner 11 & under
Camryn Fraser
Beginner 11 & under
Lillian Pappas
Novice 8 & under
Tasha Barnett
Novice 8 & under
3rd PDB, 4th PDB &
Hicuts, 3rd Fling, 3rd
Sword
3rd Fling, 1st ST, 1st
Flora, 3rd Lilt, 6th Lilt –
Scholarship Winner
4th Fling, 4th Sword, 3rd
ST, 2nd Flora, 1st Lilt
5th ST
1st Fling, 1st Sword, 1st
ST, 1st Flora, 1st Lilt –
High Aggregate Trophy &
Scholarship Winner
6th Fling, 6th Sword, 5th
ST, 3rd Flora, 5th Lilt
5th Sword, 4th ST, 4th
Flora, 6th Lilt
6th sword, 6 flora, 4th lilt
1st Fling, 1st Sword, 1st
ST, 1st Flora – High
Aggregate & Scholarship
Winner
1st lilt 2nd fling, sword,
ST,flora
5th Fling, 3rd Sword, 3rd
Flora
3rd Fling, 2nd Sword, 5th
ST, 5th Flora, 1st Lilt
2nd Fling
Maria MacDonald
Jillian Burt
Novice 8 & under
Novice 8 & under
Shelbey Rudolph
Lily Hamlyn
Rachael Blackmore
Novice 8 & under
Novice 8 & under
Novice 11 & under
Monique Nguilibet
Chloe Rudolph
Claire Smith
Novice 11 & under
Novice 11 & under
Intermediate
Charlotte Smith
Intermediate
4th Fling, 6th ST, 3rd Flora
6th Fling, 1st Sword, 2nd
Flora, 2nd Lilt
4th ST
4th Flora, 3rd Lilt
5th Fling, 6th Sword, 3rd
ST, 4th Flora
6th ST, 6th Flora, 2nd Lilt
3rd Flora, 6th Lilt
1st Fling, 2nd Sword, 4th
Hornpipe, 3rd Flora, 2nd
Lilt – Intermediate Rising
Star Award
3rd Fling, 4th Sword, 6th ST, 1st
Horn-pipe, 5th Flora, 1st Lilt –
BATD Choreography
rocked!
And the first place in the pre
premier Highland
Choreography Trophy goes
to….
Rachael Blackmore, Jillian
Burt, Annika Cram, Camryn
Fraser, Lily Hamlyn, Kaya
McKergow, Monique Nguilibet, Lillian Pappas, Chloe
Rudolph, Shelbey Rudolph,
Katie Singleton, Charlotte
Smith, Claire Smith, Faith
Whitehead, Tasha Barnett
This was a tremendous
amount of hard work for
Jennifer and all of the girls
involved, and it resulted in a
fabulous trophy. Way to go
girls!
SDNB Pre-Premier
Competition –
Riverview, NB – May 9, 2015
Averie Swantee
Beginner
8 & under
2nd Fling, 1st
Sword, 5th ST, 3rd Lilt, 1st
Flora – High Aggregate
Trophy Winner
Vivian Blackmore Beginner
8 & under
4th ST, 1st Lilt,
2nd Flora
Elena Barnett
Beginner
9 & over
1st fling, 3rd
Sword, 5th ST, 2nd lilt, 1st
flora, 1st special fling---high
aggregate trophy winner
Jenna Fryc-Beginner 9 & over
4th lilt, 5th sword
Tasha Barnett-4th Sword, 6th
Special Fling
Rachael Blackmore Novice
5th ST, 3rd Flora
Pre-Premier – Less than 3
years – Line Group
1st place, Pre-Premier
Highland Cho-reography
Trophy
Raymond MacKenzie Memorial Competition
Yarmouth, NS – May 9, 2015
Name
Category
Chloe Rudolph
Shelbey Rudolph
Jillian Burt
Placing
Novice 10 & under
Novice 10 & under
Intermediate
4th Fling, 3rd Flora
2nd Fling, 3rd Sword, 3rd ST,
1st Flora
3rd Fling,
3rd fling,
2nd2nd
ST,
ST,
3rd
3rd Barracks
Barracks
Summerside, PEI – May 16, 2015
Elena Barnett Beginner: 1st fling, 1st sword, 1st ST, 2nd lilt, 4th flora, high aggregate
winner
Tasha Barnett-Novice: 1st fling, 1st, sword, 1st, ST, 2nd lilt, 2nd flora, high aggregate
winner
Lily Hamlyn-Novice
6th Fling, 6th Sword, 4th ST, 6th Lilt, 6th Flora
Claire Smith-Intermediate
6th ST, 4th Flora, 3rd Jig
Charlotte Smith-Intermediate
2nd Fling, 3rd Sword, 5th ST, 2nd Flora, 6th Jig
Port Hawkesbury May 30, 2015
Primary 6
Anna MacDonald - 4th PdB, 3rd PdB&HC& Sword, 2nd Fling
Beginner 7
Vivian Blackmore-5th fling, 2nd Sword and ST, 2nd Flor, Runner Up trophy Wonner
Beginner 8
Averie Swantee-2nd Fling and Flora, 1Sword, 5th ST, High Aggregate Trophy Wonner
Beginner 9 & 10
Kate Singleton- 3rd Fling, 6th Sword, 4th ST
Novice 8 and Under
Shelbey Rudolph-4th fling and sword, 1st ST, 3rd Flora
Maria MacDonald- 3rd Fling, Sword, and ST, 4th Flora
Novice 9 & 10
Ava Proctor- 1st in all dances, High aggregate Trophy Winner
Rachael BlackMore 2nd in all dances, Runner Up Trophy Winner
Intermediate
Jillian Burt- 3rd Fling, 5th Sword, 3rd ST, 2nd Reel
Chloe Rudolph- 6th Fling, 6th Reel
Worthen Competition June 13, 2015
Primary 6
Anna MacDonald PDB 1st, PDBHC 4th, F 4th, SD 2nd
Darcey West PDB 6th, F 5th, SD 6TH
Alice Warren PBHC 3rd, SD 4th
Bhreagh Matheson PBHC 5th, F 3rd, SD 5th
Beginner 7
Piper Buckley ST 6th
Ella Finn F 4th SD 5
Vivian Blackmore F 6th, L 3rd
Beginner 8
Avery Swantee F 4th, SD 2nd, ST 4TH, L 2nd
Faith Whitehead F 2nd, SD 4th
Beginner 9
Jenna Fryc 5 SD , L 3rd
Annika Cramm ST 4th, L 6th
Madeson Allan F 2nd, ST 6th
Mhyah Allan F1st, SD 2nd, ST 2nd, L 2nd
Claire Lloyd F 4th, L4th
Beginner 10-11
Mallory Lloy F 2nd, SD 1st
Dianne Hazelton SD 3rd, St 1st, L 4th
Camryn Fraser F 4th, SD 2nd, ST 2nd, L 1st ********** high aggregate winner *****
Hillary Davis F 4th, SD 4th, ST 4th, L 4th
NOVICE 7-8
Maria MacDonald F 4th, Sword 2nd, ST 1st, F 2nd
Shelbey Rudolph F 2nd, ST 3rd
Tasha Barnett Sword 5th
Novice 9&10
Rachael Blackmore F2nd, Sword, 4th, ST 1st,
Lily Matheson Wood F 1st, Sd 1st********high aggregate Winner**********
Lillian Pappas F 3rd, Sword 2nd, ST 5th
Katy Singleton F 5th, ST 4th, F 4th
Kaya McKergow F 3rd
Novice 11
Elena Barnett F 2nd, Sword 4th F 4th
Intermediate 9
Jillian Burt F 4th, St 6th Reel 1st
Chloe Rudolph F 6th, Reel 5th
Monique Nguilibet F 4th, ST 6th, Reel 4th
Charlotte Smith Sword 5th, ST 4th, Reel 1st
Jennifer Worthen’s competition was a great success. Thanks Jennifer for all your hard
work. Also, a big shout out to all the Moms and Dads who helped with the canteen and
everything else!
Moncton June 20, 2015
Anna MacDonald
Primary
2nd PDB, 5th PDB & Hicuts,
6th Sword
6th Fling, 2nd ST, 3rd Lilt, 4th
Flora
2nd Fling, 5th Sword, 4th Lilt,
4th Flora
5th Fling, 4th Sword, 3rd ST,
6th Lilt, 2nd Flora
4th Fling, 5th Sword, 6th ST, 4th
Lilt, 6th Flora
4th Flora
5th Lilt, 6th Flora
2nd Fling, 4th Sword, 3rd ST,
6th Lilt
3rd Flora
1st Fling, 1st Sword, 1st ST,
1st Lilt, 1st Flora – High
Aggregate Trophy Win-ner
5th Fling, 2nd Sword, 2nd ST,
2nd Lilt
3rd Sword, 5th ST
Vivian Blackmore
Beginner 7
Claire Lloyd
Beginner 8 & 9
Faith Whitehead
Beginner 8 & 9
Elena Barnett
Beginner 10 & over
Lily Hamlyn
Averie Swantee
Maria MacDonald
Novice 9 & under
Novice 9 & under
Novice 9 & under
Tasha Barnett
Ava Proctor
Novice 9 & under
Novice 9 & under
Rachael Blackmore
Novice 9 & under
Shelbey Rudolph
Novice 9 & under
Lillian Pappas
Novice 9 & under
Jillian Burt
Intermediate 9 & under
Chloe Rudolph
Intermediate 9 & under
Pugwash July 1, 2015
Name
Category
Placing
Anna MacDonald
Primary 6
3rd PDB & Hicuts, 1st Fling, 1st
Sword
3rd Fling, 5th Sword, 4th ST,
3rd Lilt, 2nd Flora
4th Fling, 3rd Sword, 4th ST,
2nd Lilt, 1st Flora
2nd Fling, 5th Sword, 5th ST,
3rd Lilt, 4th Flora
Pugwash cont’d
Claire Lloyd
Annika Cram
Maria MacDonald
Beginner 9 & over
Beginner 9 & over
Novice 8 & under
4th Fling, 4th Sword
5th Fling, 4th ST
4th Fling, 1st Sword, 1st ST –
High Aggregate Trophy
Winner
Shelbey Rudolph
Novice 8 & under
2nd Fling, 3rd Sword, 4th ST
Kaya McKergow
Elena Barnett
Lillian Pappas
Charlotte Smith
Chloe Rudolph
Claire Smith
Monique Nguilibet
Novice 9 & over
Novice 9 & over
Novice 9 & over
Intermediate 10 & under
Intermediate 10 & under
Intermediate 11 & over
Intermediate 11 & over
4th Fling, 3rd Sword, 3rd ST
2nd ST
6th Sword, 5th ST
2nd Fling, 2nd Laddie
4th Fling
3rd Laddie
1st Fling, 2nd ST, 2nd
Laddie, 3rd Barracks
Anitgonish—July 11, 2015
Primary 5
Ella Stone 3rd pdbs, 3rd pdbhc
Primary 6
Anna MacDonald
6th PDBSHC, 5th Sword
Beginner 9-10
Ella Jewer 1st fling, 4th sword,
Madison Allan 6th fling, 6thsword, 5th lilt
Anika Cram 3rd ST, 4th lilt
Novice 7-8
Maria MacDonald 4th fling,2nd sword, 1st ST,
Lily Hamlyn 6th fling, 5th sword, 5th ST, 3rd lilt
Averie Swantee 3rd fling, 1st sword, 6 ST, 5th lilt
Antigonish cont’d
Novice 9-10
Lillian Papas
1st fling, 1st sword, 1ST, 1 Lilt Overall Winner!!!!!!
Intermediate 9 and under
Ava Proctor, 1st fling, 4th sword, 1st ST, 1st, lilt OVER ALL WINNER!!!!
Jillian Burt 3rd fling, 6th sword, 2nd lilt, 2nd ST
Lily Matheson Wood 5th lilt
** Congratulations to Ava Proctor, who travelled all the way to London Ontario
She placed 3rd in Fling, 4th in Sword, 1st in ST, 3rd in the Lilt and 5th in the Flora.
***New Glasgow results will appear in the next newsletter.
***Apologies to Ella Jewer whose name was omitted from the last newsletter. She
competed in Bedford and placed 3rd in Lilt. Way to go Ella!
On May 23, 2015, Worthen Dancers entertained over 100 residents of Northwood with
lots of dancing variety, even the choreography number (and they improvised beautifully
since there were fewer dancers than in the choreography number itself). You made
many people happy with your great work.
Congratulations to the girls who danced at the airport
on May 30, you welcomed passengers in the most
Nova Scotia way possible! As well, a big shout out to
those who danced on July 10 for the opening
ceremonies of the Special Olympics.