About Us

The Johnson School of Highland Dance Inc. is under the direction of Jennifer Johnson-George.  The Director, along with her team that includes Kelsey Zebrun as a teacher and Classroom Volunteers,  bring a variety of experiences, expertise, and teaching techniques to the school. 

  Jennifer Johnson-George - Director and Owner

Member B.A.T.D. Highland, Member B.A.T.D. National, Member S.D.T.A. Highland, Bachelor of Education

Jennifer Johnson-George began Highland Dancing at the age of 5 with Evelyn Leinweber and joined the Laureen McLaren School of Highland Dance at the age of 18. She has her Members teaching qualification in both the Highland and National branches of the British Association of Teachers of Dancing (B.A.T.D.) and her Member Highland qualification from the Scottish Dance Teacher's Alliance (S.D.T.A.). Jennifer also has the Elementary Certificate in ballet from the Royal Academy of Dancing in London. Jennifer has a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Calgary, specializing in early childhood development. Jennifer has served as the Chairperson to ScotDance Alberta South Region, the ScotDance Alberta Representative to the Alberta Highland Dancing Association, and is currently the B.A.T.D. Alberta Secretary. Jennifer organizes the B.A.T.D.'s exam tour in Alberta as well as the B.A.T.D.'s Championship Step Lectures and Workshops in Calgary.

Jen Over The Years

Jennifer competed in competitions across Canada, the United States, and Scotland adding numerous championship titles to her credit along the way. She was a Provincial Representative to the Canadian Interprovincial Championships for 10 consecutive years, and is the only person to have won the Sword of the Rockies 5 years in a row at the Rocky Mountain Championship in Colorado. Jennifer has trained students who have gone on to win local, provincial, and American championships, including the Alberta and Canadian championship titles. Jennifer is a keen and proven choreographer.   She has choreographed numerous dances of the solo, small group, and large group variety.  Her choreographies have garnered awards at the ScotDance Canada Championship Series. Jennifer has also danced in many choreographies that she has performed and competed in across Canada and the United States.

Jennifer retired from competitive Highland Dancing at the age of 24 when she began working as an elementary school teacher for the Calgary Board of Education.  In 2005 Jennifer was nominated for the Canadian Governor General's Award for Excellence in the Teaching of Canadian History, she finished second place and was recognized by the Alberta Teachers' Association for her achievement. In 2006 Jennifer won the award including a gold medal, meeting at Rideau Hall with the Governor General, $2,500 and $1,000 for her school. She won the Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence in 2006 and was presented her award by the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada who presented Jen with her award at a ceremony in Calgary on 21 December 2006.

Jennifer has spoken about Job Embedded Professional Development at the SITE (Society for Information and Technology in Education) conference and about Inquiry Based Education at the Imagination Conference in Vancouver. She was also the winner of the 2006 Online Learning Award from the International Society for Technology in Education which recognizes creative teachers worldwide for their pioneering use of telecommunication networks to provide innovative learning opportunities for school-age students K–16. Jennifer has also guest lectured for courses with the U of C's Faculty of Education is a frequent presenter at education conferences throughout North America. Jennifer will be commencing her studies towards a Master of Arts with a specialisation in Interpretive Studies in Education at the University of Calgary's Graduate Division of Educational Research in September 2007.

  Kelsie Zebrun - Teacher

Member S.D.T.A. Highland, Bachelor of Arts

Known throughout North America, Kelsie Lynn Zebrun has had a successful career in dancing.  She began Highland dancing at the age of four.  From this early start Kelsie progressed quickly to championship level dancing.  Under the instruction of Keltie Stowkowy and Pierie Danysk, she has won the Alberta Provincial Championships 10 times and has represented Alberta in the Canadian Championships 13 consecutive times. She defended her title again this year and is our current adult Alberta Champion.  Kelsie has been first runner-up at the Canadian Inter-Provincial Championships and was the 2nd Runner-Up in the Adult Class at the Canadian Inter-Provincial Championships in 2007 and the North American Champion in the 20 & Under 22 age group, both held as part of the ScotDance Canada Championship Series in New Brunswick. She has also been Champion at the Western Canadian Championships and United States Western Championships.

A highlight of Kelsie’s dancing career was being able to dance for the Queen and the Royal Family in Braemar, Scotland. Kelsie has been teaching dance at the Gillie Callum dance school since 2001. In 2004 Kelsie received her Member Highland qualification with distinction from the Scottish Dance Teacher's Alliance. Kelsie’s passion for teaching children has carried over into her life outside of dancing. She has completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in General Studies and is now entering her last year in the Masters of Teaching program at the University of Calgary.Kelsie has a profile on the popular www.toeandheel.com Highland dance website, take a look!

   Devon McLellan - Classroom Volunteer

At the Johnson School of Highland Dance we encourage our theory students to volunteer in a beginner class. This does not have to occur on a regular basis. This allows them to mentor a younger  dancer, improve their own dancing by learning what to look for in others,   and builds the team spirit we hope to foster in the school. Currently Devon   is helping Jennifer in the Beginner/Novice class in a volunteer capacity. If   you are a Premier dancer and are at least 11 years old you might be   interested in helping in a class, speak to Jennifer to set this up.

Devon has been dancing with the Johnson School of Highland Dance since she was 5 years old.  She is currently a premier level dancer and has danced in competitions throughout Canada, the US, and Scotland.  She has won medals and/or runner-up positions in the Queen Mary, Queen City, Calgary Chinook and Northern Canadian championships.  Devon recently completed her Grade 3 theory with Honours, will be doing her Grade 4 theory exams at the BATD conference in Edmonton this year, and plans to complete her BATD Associate’s exams as soon as she is eligible.Devon was nominated for the Sadie Simpson BATD Junior Scholarship competition to be held at the Fantasyland Hotel during the BATD conference in Edmonton on November 2nd, 2007. She was nominated by the BATD Medal Test Examiner based on her performance during this May 2007's exams.

   Sarah Lunt - Classroom Volunteer

At the Johnson School of Highland Dance we encourage our theory students to volunteer in a beginner class. This does not have to occur on a regular basis. This allows them to mentor a younger  dancer, improve their own dancing by learning what to look for in others,   and builds the team spirit we hope to foster in the school. Currently Sarah  is helping Jennifer in the Beginner/Novice class in a volunteer capacity. If   you are a Premier dancer and are at least 11 years old you might be   interested in helping in a class, speak to Jennifer to set this up.

Sarah learned her love of dancing and Scottish culture at a very young age.  She took her first steps at a Highland Games in Michigan, and spent her first birthday at the Canadian Pipe Band Championships in Ontario. She began dancing at the age of 6 in Ontario and moved to Calgary in 2000, joining the Johnson School of Highland Dance where she is currently a Premier level Dancer. Her love of dance has led her to experience such things as Hip Hop, Color Guard with the Calgary Round-up Band, as well as 4 years of Ballet, 2 with the International School of Ballet.  Her true passion however is highland dance, which is evident by her positive outlook, dedication, and continuous smile during classes and competitions. Sarah has recently completed her Grade 4 BATD theory exams, and is on track to complete her Grade 5 theory exams as well as her BATD Associate exams in 2008.  

Outside of dance (if there is such a thing), Sarah is a successful, hard working French Immersion student in High-school.  She is scheduled to graduate in 2010 and will have achieved the Calgary Board of Education Bilingual Certificate.  Not only does she hope to become a Highland Dance teacher but she aims to attend university to become a school teacher.

  Erik Johnson - Business & Web Advisor

Member B.A.T.D. Highland, Canadian Risk Management, Associate Chartered Insurance Institute, Chartered Insurance Practitioner, Bachelor of Commerce, Master of Science Insurance & Risk Management

Erik relocated to London, UK in 2004 and he provides advice regarding the business management of the school,  website assistance, and teaches classes when he is in Calgary. He began dancing at the age of 5, at 16 he moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba, to pursue his studies in Ballet with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School's Professional Division. While completing his training as a scholarship student at the RWB Erik danced as a provincial representative for Manitoba at the Canadian Inter-Provincial Championships coming 5th runner-up.   After retiring from competitive Highland dancing at the age of 16 he completed his Members Highland in B.A.T.D. while studying  with his teacher Peter Archibald. During Erik's time at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet he had the opportunity to tour Canada, performing in  Romeo & Juliet, The Sleeping Beauty, and Swan Lake. Erik has a Diploma in Ballet from the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School and his Intermediate Certificate from the Royal Academy of Dancing (R.A.D.). Erik competed in Highland competitions across Canada, the United States, and Scotland, adding several championship titles to his credit. Erik has successfully coached students who have won championship titles at the local, provincial and national levels. Erik also took tap, jazz, and musical theatre lessons.

Erik completed his Bachelor of Commerce (Distinction) at the University of Calgary on scholarship with a concentration in finance, risk management and insurance. He also completed a Master of Science (Distinction) degree while on scholarship from City University's Cass School of Business, London, UK.  He has also completed his Canadian Risk Management designation from the Global Institute of Risk Management and Insurance. Erik currently works as a Manager at Deloitte in London, UK where he advises clients on insurance and risk management, corporate finance, and strategic issues. Erik recently completed his ACII (Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute), holds his Chartered Insurance Practitioner status, and has completed  his MIRM (Member of the Institute of Risk Management) designations in the UK. He has served as ScotDance Alberta's representative to the Alberta Highland Dancing Association, represented ScotDance Alberta as an Executive Committee Member of ScotDance Canada, served as the Secretary ScotDance Alberta South Region, and currently acts as ScotDance Canada's Insurance Coordinator. 

© Johnson School of Highland Dance Inc. 2004

All contracts, claims, and/or disputes relating to, or involving this website and/or Johnson School of Highland Dance Inc. are subject to the Exclusive Jurisdiction of the Province of Alberta, Canada.

[Home] [Instructors] [Dances] [Associations] [Competing] [Exams] [Expectations] [News] [Members] [Links] [Pictures] [Privacy] [Schedule] [Calendar] [Contact / Legal]