Sadie Simpson, Highland Scholarship (North American)
Welcome to the Twenty-third BATD North American Sadie Simpson Highland Scholarships and Highland Weekend. Over the weekend, participants will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the vibrant traditions of Highland dance, learn from esteemed instructors, and build lasting connections with dancers from across North America.
All ages and categories are welcome and guaranteed to have a fun-filled weekend with friends, fantastic classes and instructors.
This year's Scholarship will be held from 25th - 27th September 2026.
Please submit your entry for the Scholarship weekend online here.
Please see link to our Reservation page - Reservation Link
Hilton Toronto/Markham Suites Conference Centre & Spa
Please see link to our Reservation page - Reservation Link
8500 Warden Ave, Markham, Ontario
About 25 minutes north of the City of Markham, northeast of Toronto and about 25 minutes from downtown and Pearson International Airport with easy access to highways.
The hotel has everything a traveling dancer requires:
spacious suites
yoga and fitness classes
sauna
indoor pool
nearby shopping
golf, restaurants, major and local attractions
On site restaurants:
The Mark Bistro
Sushi
Sushi Bar
Reservations
Reservation link available Here
Phone reservations: 905-470-8500
Mention BATD September Rate.
Closing date: August 22nd, 2026
After this date, rooms may increase in price.
Price: $219 per night + taxes
COST (Canadian Funds)
Dancers & Teachers
Participation in all classes, dinner/ceilidh, champagne brunch and gift bag.
Also includes Friday cocktail reception for teachers.
BATD Teachers (before Sept 7): $300
BATD Teachers (after Sept 7): $355
Non-BATD Teachers: $365
Dancers (before Sept 7): $300
Dancers (after Sept 7): $355
Pizza Party for Dancers: $45
Classes Only (parents/teachers): $50
Parents Options
Choose one:
Classes Saturday & Sunday + Friday cocktail reception
Sunday Champagne Brunch & Goodie Bag – $95
Dinner/Ceilidh & Champagne Brunch – $225
Dinner/Ceilidh only – $90
Ceilidh only (Saturday evening) – $65
Optional
Scholarship ticket for parents to watch Friday scholarships
(BATD Teachers no charge)
Friday Evening Full Conference – $55
If not attending full conference – $40
Judges Pre-Paid Lunch: $60
REGISTRATION FORM
Forms should be emailed to:
Jen Martin – Toronto, Ontario
Submission indicates agreement to conditions.
If confirmation of entry is not received, contact the organizer.
Please fill out individual forms for each participant.
Important Information
Closing date: Thursday, Sept 7th, 2026
Late fee: $50
No refunds
Food allergies and vegetarian requests must be included with entry.
Group bookings for dinner/ceilidh tables of 10 must be arranged before Sept 7th.
Please sign release form on back.
WEEKEND
The Highland Scholarships begin on Friday, 25th September, 2026.
There are many classes offered for dancers, parents, and teachers throughout the weekend.
Events include:
cocktail reception on Friday evening
dance classes
awards
a Saturday champagne brunch
Friday evening (7:00 pm – 9:30 pm)
While adults are at a cocktail reception, there will be a pizza party for participating dancers.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Registration Room opens Thursday Sept 24th at noon and closes 8:00 pm.
Reopens Friday Sept 25th at 8:00 am and closes 7:00 pm.
Examiners meeting: Thursday Sept 24th at 8:00 pm
FRIDAY
Times to be confirmed.
Highland Scholarships
Tickets can be purchased to watch dancers.
Classes will be during the dance and class at the registration desk.
7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Cocktail and Welcome Reception
Meet with B.A.T.D. Officers, Executive Members, and North American Highland Co-ordinators
7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Dancers Pizza Party and Games
SATURDAY
8:30 am – 9:00 am
Warm-up
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Classes and Meetings
(Lunch not included in package)
RSOBHD Judges Meeting during lunch break
(Judges may pre-pay for lunch)
6:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Cocktails
7:00 pm – 1:00 am
Dinner / Ceilidh
BATD meeting will be scheduled during the afternoon.
SUNDAY
9:45 am – 10:30 am
CPD Teachers / Judges RSOBHD Videos
10:00 am – 11:30 am
Champagne Brunch
11:45 am – 3:30 pm
Classes
Additional Notes
Exams for both amateur and professionals available Thursday Sept 24th, 2026.
Teachers and dancers can participate in all classes.
Parents and siblings will receive a gift bag and access to classes if attending.
Contact for exams: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
2025 B.A.T.D. SADIE SIMPSON NORTH AMERICAN HIGHLAND SCHOLARSHIPS WINNERS
2025 JUVENILE SCHOLARSHIP
ADELINE BRUNEAU – JOY ALLEN SCHOOL OF DANCE
First Place Juvenile Scholarship in Honour of “SADIE SIMPSON”
2ND PLACE
JAY RITCHIE – CRANE SCHOOL OF HIGHLAND DANCE
Second Place Juvenile Scholarship in Honour of “SADIE SIMPSON”
3RD PLACE
GRACIE CHRISTENSEN – ARCHIBALD ACADEMY OF DANCE
Third Place Juvenile Scholarship in Honour of “Sherry Dalliday”
4TH PLACE
NORA ATKINS – MARY ELLEN CANN SCHOOL OF HIGHLAND DANCING
Fourth Place Juvenile Scholarship in Honour of “Christine Aitken”
5TH PLACE
FINN GRAF – MERCIER SCHOOL OF DANCE
Fifth Place Juvenile Scholarship in Honour of “Christine Aitken”
6TH PLACE
CORALINE VALENTE – THISTLE + HEATHER HIGHLAND DANCERS
Sixth Place Juvenile Scholarship in Honour of “Mary Munro”
2025 BEST JUVENILE WRITTEN PAPER WINNER
IRELYNN WRIGHT – SHALNI PROWSE SCHOOL OF HIGHLAND DANCE
First Place Juvenile Written Paper in Honour of “Donna Cusack”
2ND PLACE
NORA ATKINS – MARY ELLEN CANN SCHOOL OF HIGHLAND DANCING
Second Place Juvenile Written Paper in Honour of “Sandra Weyman”
3RD PLACE
MAY SCHATTMANN – KELTIC DANCE ACADEMY
Third Place Juvenile Written Paper in Honour of “Lynne Erbrick”
4TH PLACE
CHEYANNE BEATLY – SHALNI PROWSE SCHOOL OF HIGHLAND DANCE
Fourth Place Juvenile Written Paper in Honour of “May Martin”
5TH PLACE
GRACIE CHRISTENSEN – ARCHIBALD ACADEMY OF DANCE
Fifth Place Juvenile Written Paper in Honour of “Catherine Fisher”
6TH PLACE
MAYRA DOWNEY – MACMURCHY SCHOOL OF HIGHLAND DANCE
Sixth Place Juvenile Written Paper in Honour of “Margo Naismith”
2025 JUVENILE CHOREOGRAPHY WINNER
ADELINE BRUNEAU – JOY ALLEN SCHOOL OF DANCE
First Place Juvenile Choreography In Honour of “Helen Ford”
2ND PLACE
JAY RITCHIE – CRANE SCHOOL OF HIGHLAND DANCE
Second Place Juvenile Choreography In Honour of “Judy Hackett”
3RD PLACE
EMMA TODD-KING – CAMBRIDGE HIGHLAND DANCE & COMPANY
Third Place Juvenile Choreography In Honour of “Eleanor Belton”
4TH PLACE
FINN GRAF – MERCIER SCHOOL OF DANCE
Fourth Place Juvenile Choreography In Honour of “Mary Margaret Manifold”
5TH PLACE
GRACIE CHRISTENSEN – ARCHIBALD ACADEMY OF DANCE
Fifth Place Juvenile Choreography In Honour of “Carolyn Spears”
6TH PLACE – TIED
MAYRA DOWNEY – MACMURCHY SCHOOL OF HIGHLAND DANCE
Sixth Place Juvenile Choreography In Honour of “Debby Stevenson”
ELLIE HAMM – BLUE WAVE HIGHLAND DANCE
Sixth Place Juvenile Choreography In Honour of “Debby Stevenson”
2025 JUVENILE WINNERS – SADIE SIMPSON HONOUR DANCE TROPHIES
1ST – JAY RITCHIE – CRANE SCHOOL OF HIGHLAND DANCE
2ND – GRACIE CHRISTENSEN – ARCHIBALD ACADEMY OF DANCE
3RD – ADELINE BRUNEAU – JOY ALLEN SCHOOL OF DANCE
4TH – EMMA TODD-KING – CAMBRIDGE HIGHLAND DANCE & COMPANY
5TH – SOPHIA KRILL – MARIELLE LESPERANCE SCHOOL OF DANCE
6TH – LILIANNA MAHMOOD – HIGHLAND DANCE ALBUQUERQUE
2025 JUNIOR HIGHLAND WINNER
WILLOW NEMBHARD – POCONO HIGHLAND DANCE ACADEMY
First Place Junior Scholarship in Honour of “SADIE SIMPSON”
2ND PLACE
BETHANY HAWKINS – LAKE CITY HIGHLAND DANCE
Second Place Junior Scholarship in Honour of “SADIE SIMPSON”
3RD PLACE
EMILY BRETT – LINDSAY ROSE HIGHLAND DANCE COMPANY
Third Place Junior Scholarship in Honour of “C. STEWART SMITH”
4TH PLACE
MAX GRAF -MERCIER SCHOOL OF DANCE
Fourth Place Junior Scholarship in Honour of “BETTY LAWRENCE”
5TH PLACE
EMMA STUART – CENTRE FOR DANCE & THE PERFORMING ARTS
Fifth Place Junior Scholarship in Honour of “EVELYN LEINWEBER”
6TH PLACE
ISLA BUCHANAN – THISTLE + HEATHER HIGHLAND DANCERS
Sixth Place Junior Scholarship in Honour of “MARGARET CALLANDER”
2025 BEST JUNIOR WRITTEN PAPER WINNER
BETHANY HAWKINS – LAKE CITY HIGHLAND DANCE
First Place Junior Written Paper in Honour of “MARGUERITE REID”
2ND PLACE
CLAIRE HENSHELL – KATE DEGOOD SCHOOL OF DANCE
Second Place Junior Written Paper in Honour of “JESSIE STEWART HAGGARTY MBE”
3RD PLACE
FIONA DURWARD – MARY ELLEN CANN SCHOOL OF DANCE
Third Place Junior Written Paper in Honour of “JOY TOLEV”
4TH PLACE
CAROLINE AMBROSIUS – POCONO HIGHLAND DANCE ACADEMY
Fourth Place Junior Written Paper
5TH PLACE
ALANNA GARDNER – THISTLE & HEATHER HIGHLAND DANCERS
Fifth Place Junior Written Paper
6TH PLACE
ZOEY BACZYNSKI – THISTLE & HEATHER HIGHLAND DANCERS
Sixth Place Junior Written Paper
2025 JUNIOR CHOREOGRAPHY WINNER
MAX GRAF – MERCIER SCHOOL OF DANCE
First place Junior Choreography In Honour of “JANET T. MACLACHLAN”
2ND PLACE
EMMA STUART – CENTRE FOR DANCE & THE PERFORMING ARTS
Second place Junior Choreography In Honour of “JOE WALLIN”
3RD PLACE
BETHANY HAWKINS – LAKE CITY HIGHLAND DANCE
Third place Junior Choreography In Honour of “ELIZABETH COYLE”
4TH PLACE
WILLOW NEMBHARD – POCONO HIGHLAND DANCE ACADEMY
Fourth place Junior Choreography
5TH PLACE
OLIVIA BISHOP – BLUE BONNETS HIGHLAND DANCE STUDIO
Fifth place Junior Choreography
6TH PLACE – TIED
EMILY BRETT – LINDSAY ROSE HIGHLAND DANCE COMPANY
Sixth place Junior Choreography
CAROLINE AMBROSIUS – POCONO HIGHLAND DANCE ACADEMY
Sixth place Junior Choreography
2025 JUNIOR WINNERS – SADIE SIMPSON HONOUR DANCE TROPHIES
1ST – BETHANY HAWKINS – LAKE CITY HIGHLAND DANCE
2ND – EMMA STUART – CENTRE FOR DANCE & THE PERFORMING ARTS
3RD – MAX GRAFF – MERCIER SCHOOL OF DANCE
4TH – OLIVIA BISHOP – BLUE BONNETS HIGHLAND DANCE STUDIO
5TH – WILLOW NEMBHARD – POCONO HIGHLAND DANCE ACADEMY
6TH – CAROLINE AMBROSIUS – POCONO HIGHLAND DANCE ACADEMY
2025 SENIOR HIGHLAND WINNER
GRACE BARCLAY – BRECK SCHOOL OF HIGHLAND DANCE
First Place Keeper Senior Scholarship In Honour of “SADIE SIMPSON”
2ND PLACE
ISLA HIGGINS – DAVIDSON SCHOOL OF HIGHLAND DANCE
Second Place Keeper Senior Scholarship In Honour of “SADIE SIMPSON”
3RD PLACE
LACHLAN MACLEAN – SUTHERLAND STUDIO OF DANCE
Third Place Keeper Senior Scholarship In Honour of “ADELINE DUNCAN”
4TH PLACE
TALIE HAWKINS – LAKE CITY HIGHLAND DANCE
Fourth Place Keeper Senior Scholarship In Honour of “JEAN RITCHIE”
5TH PLACE
ALLISON WILLIAMS – CENTRE FOR DANCE & THE PERFORMING ARTS
Fifth Place Keeper Senior Scholarship In Honour of “MARY STEWART”
6TH PLACE
EMMA HAIGHT – TWASOME HIGHLAND DANCE TROUPE
Sixth Place Keeper Senior Scholarship In Honour of “MOLLIE McGREGOR”
2025 BEST SENIOR WRITTEN PAPER WINNER
HANNAH WATERFALL – CAMBRIDGE HIGHLAND DANCE & COMPANY
First Place Senior Written Paper In Honour of “MARGUERITE REID”
2ND PLACE
EMMA RITO – KATE DEGOOD SCHOOL OF DANCE
Second Place Senior Written Paper In Honour of “NANCY HAGGARTY”
3RD PLACE
GRACE BARCLAY – BRECK SCHOOL OF HIGHLAND DANCE
Third Place Senior Written Paper In Honour of “ANNE SUTHERLAND”
4TH PLACE
TALIE HAWKINS – LAKE CITY HIGHLAND DANCE
Fourth Place Senior Written Paper
5TH PLACE
KALEIGH HARPER – BRECK SCHOOL OF HIGHLAND DANCE
Fifth Place Senior Written Paper
6TH PLACE
KIMBERLEY PARNELL – CENTRE FOR DANCE & THE PERFORMING ARTS
Sixth Place Senior Written Paper
2025 SENIOR CHOREOGRAPHY WINNER
GRACE BARCLAY – BRECK SCHOOL OF HIGHLAND DANCE
First Place Senior Choreography In Honour of “EVELYN MURRAY”
2ND PLACE
ISLA HIGGINS – DAVIDSON SCHOOL OF HIGHLAND DANCE
Second Place Senior Choreography In Honour of “JEAN FORBES”
3RD PLACE
LACHLAN MACLEAN – SUTHERLAND SCHOOL
Third Place Senior Choreography In Honour of “DIANE KRUGH”
4TH PLACE
TALLIE HAWKINS – LAKE CITY HIGHLAND DANCE
Fourth Place Senior Choreography
5TH PLACE
AVA HAIGHT – TWASOME HIGHLAND DANCE TROUPE
Fifth Place Senior Choreography
6TH PLACE
ELIZABETH RYSER – BLUE BONNETS HIGHLAND DANCE STUDIO
Sixth Place Senior Choreography
2025 SENIOR WINNERS – SADIE SIMPSON HONOUR DANCE TROPHIES
1ST – GRACE BARCLAY – BRECK SCHOOL OF HIGHLAND DANCE
2ND – ISLA HIGGINS – DAVIDSON SCHOOL OF HIGHLAND DANCE
3RD – ALLISON WILLIAMS – CENTRE FOR DANCE & THE PERFORMING ARTS
4TH – LEXI HAVSMANN – CENTRE FOR DANCE & THE PERFORMING ARTS
5TH – LILY TRIMBLE – CENTRE FOR DANCE & THE PERFORMING ARTS
6TH – EMMA HAIGHT – TWASOME HIGHLAND DANCE TROUPE
