sCotLaNd todaY
| Highland dancers
Words by SALLY COFFEY
AT THE TOP OF THEIR GAME
Beret Dernbach, current World Junior Champion, reveals what it’s like to compete in the World Highland Dance Championships
ABOVE: There are also dance competitions at the Ballater Highland Games OPPOSITE PAGE, CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT: Cowal Highland Gathering World Championship trophy winners; winning competitors celebrate; Beret Dernbach; the prestigious gold medal, of which only three are produced each year (one for each age group)
62 Scotland
B
eret Dernbach is just 18 years old and yet she has won the World Junior Championships for Highland dancing twice and has been named US Champion three times (she is reigning champion for both). Of course, to reach this level of skill takes time and dedication. Beret practises dancing for at least one hour every day and attends private dancing lessons two to three times per week. During summer holidays, she usually practises twice a day to prepare for the bigger summer competitions. But how did a young girl from San Diego, USA, become so involved in Highland dancing? The answer for Beret is simple: she holds her Scottish heritage very close. “My gran was born in Scotland and emigrated to Canada,” she says, “Then my mom emigrated to the United States, where I was born. I still have relatives living in Scotland, who we visit when we are able to go over there.” Beret’s mum, Allison, competed in Highland dancing when she was young, but it was never really her intention for her daughter to follow in her springing footsteps. Allison tried to ignite Beret’s interest in a number of activities (ballet, skating, gymnastics) to no avail, but as soon as Beret attended her first Highland dancing class, aged five, she was hooked: “I’ve been doing it ever since,” Beret says. For Beret, Highland dancing is now a major part of her life. Most months there is a competition somewhere, many within reasonable driving distance or a short flight away, but some are further afield, like the ScotDance Canada Championship Series or the ScotDance USA Championships. However, the pinnacle of Highland dancing achievement is competing at the World Championships held at the Cowal Highland Gathering each August. Each year (2020 and 2021 aside) mother and
