About
The Midwest Region is one of the six regions that comprise ScotDance USA nationally. We represent a unique, diverse affiliation of nine states, their dancers, families, and communities who together celebrate the great traditions of Highland culture through performances, competitions, and festivals. We gather to the call of the pipes, leap to the challenge of the dance…and take our greatest inspiration from the lifelong friendships that grow from our love of the ancient and noble Highland arts.
Celebrating the rich traditions of Scottish Highland dance, we bring together dancers, families, and communities across the Midwest, uniting passion, precision, and culture through performances, competitions, and lifelong friendships.
ScotDance USA Mission
ScotDance USA was formed to promote and nurture the traditions and heritage of Scottish Highland dancing in the United States by providing opportunities for the professional development of teachers and adjudicators and by creating a rewarding environment for dancers.
Scholarships
ScotDance USA Midwest is proud to present an annual cash prize to a dancer from each category - Primary, Beginner, Novice, Intermediate, and Premier. Scholarship recipients are selected via random draw from teacher nominations from Midwest registered dancers of the current year. The Midwest regional teachers hope this cash award will support your dancing endeavors, whether for new ghillies, highland dance lessons, a new costume, or whatever your highland dancing needs are at this time.
Past Winners 2024: Primary - Blaise Cassidy Beginner - Olivia Lang Novice - Elizabeth Augustine Intermediate - Sadie Herb Premier - Nadia DeMaagd 2023: Primary - Bronwynn Johnson Beginner - Fatima Diaz Novice - Mercy Knoflicek Intermediate - Graham Ryckman Premier - Theresa Parker 2022: Primary - Evelyn Julseth Beginner - Lilah MacDonald Novice - Alice Makowski Intermediate - Rose Johnson Premier - Evelyn Kemler 2021: Primary - Emma Kelley Beginner - Lindsey Fraught Novice - Logann O'Dell Intermediate - Henry Volk Premier - Emily Carter 2020: Primary - Adelyn Ryckman Beginner - Delilah Keleman Novice - Catarina Rossi-MacQueen Intermediate - Kamden Nestor Premier - Kathleen Donoho *dancers are only eligible to win the ScotDance USA Midwest scholarship once
ScotDance USA is pleased to offer two academic scholarships thanks to the generosity of two philanthropic gifts to eligible current-year registered dancers.
The Farrar Scholarship is awarded to a dancer who is preparing for their first year of education beyond high school. The Whittlesey Scholarship is awarded to a dancer who is in college, graduate school or other educational program.
Scholarship applications go live on February 1st of each year on the SDUSA national website. All applications must be submitted by April 1st and recipients will be notified no later than May 15th.
*Pictured is McKenna Lindsay, 2024 Whittlesey Scholarship recipient and Midwest dancer with Ann Johnson, sponsor of the Whittlesey Scholarship.