Teachers

Meet the Gillie Callum Team

Leah Smith

Leah began highland dancing at the age of six. She had a successful competitive career that spanned
nearly 20 years, including dancing three times in the Canadian Championships. Leah was a student at
Gillie Callum and began student teaching in 1997 under the mentorship of Pierie Danysk and Keltie
Stowkowy. She enjoys working with dancers to pass on her love of highland dance; both the athleticism
and the artform. Her desire is to continue to help foster the Gillie Callum family atmosphere and lasting
friendships.

Highland dancing has provided Leah the opportunity to travel and compete across Canada, the US,
Scotland and even Japan where she danced in the Canadian Festival at Inawashiro in 2002 along with
Ashley.

She is presently a member of SDTA, a professional member of ScotDance Canada, the National Registrar for ScotDance Canada, and an adjudicator with the Royal Scottish Official Board of Highland Dance. Leah has her B.Sc. in Civil Engineering and currently works as a structural engineer for a Calgary consulting firm.

Megan Nettleton

Megan began dancing with Gillie Callum in 2000, under the instruction of former Gillie Callum directors Pierie Danysk and Keltie Stowkowy, and then later Ashley Stowkowy. She had a very successful competitive career that lasted beyond her childhood years and well into adulthood. She was fortunate to dance with Bill Troock and Kelly Abrahart while at University in Edmonton. Megan’s passion and commitment to highland dance presented her with the opportunity to represent Alberta at the Canadian Championships many times. She also had the joy of competing in 13 different Gillie Callum choreographies at SDCCS - a highlight of her dancing career!

Megan became a member of the SDTA in 2014, and has been involved in teaching with Gillie Callum for over a decade. In 2019, she joined Leah as a co-director of the studio. Megan has helped train dancers who have gone on to compete successfully on some the biggest stages in Highland dance. She loves to create choreographies and this passion has led to winning numbers on the SDCCS stage.

Megan strives to cultivate a love of dance, a strong work ethic and technique in the students at Gillie Callum. She works to maintain the legacy of Gillie Callum community and continues to foster the friendships that she has formed in the Highland community. Outside of the dance studio, Megan can be found with her dog, Fergus, and continuing to share her love of teaching as an elementary teacher.

Megan Pryor

COMING SOON!

Ashley Stowkowy

Having danced most of her career with the Gillie Callum studio, Ashley holds dear the culture and legacy this community of dancers has. Ashley has a passion for dance and loves enabling that same passion in her students. Highland dance has so much to offer and Ashley strikes a balance of bringing fun and hard work to a class; she strives to create an engaging environment for the dancers. In her 20+ years of teaching she has trained girls that have been successful at regional, national and international levels. Ashley loves working on the traditional Highland dances, but also has a keen interest in creating choreography. Her creative talents have led dance troupes to several top finishes at the ScotDance Canada Championship Series.

Ashley had the benefit and joy of being trained by some superstar teachers at Gillie Callum; Gail Danysk, Pierie Danysk and her mom, Keltie Stowkowy. With their coaching and mentorship, Ashley became an accomplished dancer herself; and strives to live up to their legacy and bring out the best in her dancers, inside and outside of the studio. Ashley is an an eight time Alberta provincial champion. She has won three National titles, and placed 2nd at the 1999 World Championships. Over her career, Ashley had the privilege of being trained by some other talented teachers; Sherril Medd, Bill Troock, Kelly Abrahart, Mrs. Jean Simpson, Jill Young and Cheryl Rafter. Ashley is also an Adjudicator with the Royal Scottish Official Board of Highland Dance. She is a member of the SDTA and BATD, as well as being a professional member with ScotDance USA. Ashley recently relocated to Houston, TX and still engages in teaching virtually with TeamGC. Outside of the dance studio Ashley is an Engineer and works with TC Energy.

Keltie Stowkowy

Keltie has nurtured and developed Gillie Callum Highland Dancers for over 25 years. Keltie is masterful at engaging young dancers and developing, not only a passion for dance, but also a strong work ethic. One thing all of Keltie's students share is a love of dance. She has a great eye for technique, a trait that has led her to develop national champions and world class dancers.

Keltie is a Fellow of the SDTA and BATD, she is a member of ScotDance Canada, and also the former National Registrar and National Competition Organizer chair for ScotDance Canada. As a respected teacher in the Highland community Keltie is also an accomplished judge with the RSOBHD. She has travelled all over the world to judge major championships and lead workshops for dancers.