our teachers

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.
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She is presently a member of SDTA, a professional member of ScotDance Canada, an adjudicator with the 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 successful competitive career that lasted beyond University and into adulthood. While at University, Megan was fortunate to dance with the Strathcona School of Highland Dance in Sherwood Park, under the instruction of Bill Troock and Kelly Abrahart, in conjunction to Gillie Callum. Megan’s passion and commitment to highland dance presented her the opportunity to represent Alberta 6 times at the Canadian Championships, where she finished in the top 6 of her age group four times. She had the joy of competing in 13 different Gillie Callum choreographies at SDCCS. Megan became a member of the SDTA in 2016.

Megan strives to foster a love of dance within her students, while developing both a strong work ethic within the dancers she teaches. She believes in rising to the challenges that dance has to offer, both physically and mentally, and promotes the "life lessons" that Highland Dance teaches along the way. Megan also advocates that positive teacher-student relationships and dance friendships are key to a long term dance career.

Outside of the studio, Megan continues to share and develop her love of teaching in the school setting as an elementary teacher with the Calgary Board of Eduction. She is also in the midst of planning her wedding, which will take place in 2021. 

Megan Pryor

COMING SOON! 

Ashley Stowkowy

Having danced most of her career with this 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 creates an engaging environment for the dancers. In her 15 years of teaching she has trained girls that have been successful at both the provincial and national level. Ashley loves working on the traditional Highland dances, but also has a keen interest in creating choreography. Her creative talents have led dancers to several top finishes at ScotDance Canada Championship Series.

As an accomplished dancer herself, Ashley, strives to bring out the best in her dancers. Ashley is an eight time Alberta provincial champion. She has won three National titles, and placed 2nd at the 1999 World Championships. Ashley is also an Adjudicator with the 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.

Carley Frazer

Carley has been involved in highland dance for almost 20 years. She started with Gillie Callum at the age of 5. A focused and dedicated adult competitor, Carley has achieved many successes, including representing Alberta at the Canadian Championships, and qualifying for the Adult World Championship Finals held in Dunoon, Scotland. She is a member of the SDTA. 
 
Carley has taught for the past 7 years and values her relationships with the dance community. Outside of highland dance, Carley has just finished her third year of law school at the University of Calgary and will begin her articling position this Fall. 

Keltie Stowkowy

Keltie has nurtured and developed Gillie Callum Highland Dancers for over 20 years, including all of the above teachers. 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 not only a member of ScotDance Canada, but also the National Registrar and National Competition Organizer chair. As a respected teacher in the Highland community Keltie is also an accomplished judge with the SOBHD. She has travelled all over the world to judge major championships and lead workshops for dancers.