Instructors
Fred DeMarse
Fred started to compete in Highland dancing in 1988 after completing his university studies at the University of California-Berkeley in Chemical Engineering. He has competed and performed throughout North America and Europe. Performance highlights include touring with the Kings Own Borderers Pipe Band on their American West Coast tour in 1997, traveling throughout Norway in 1998 performing with the Red Thistles Scottish Dance company (based in San Francisco), and participating in Bonnie Rideout's 1999 A Scottish Christmas tour, which included a final performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
Fred is a Fellow of the British Association of Teachers of Dance (BATD) and the United Kingdom Alliance (UKA). He joined the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing (SOBHD) World-Wide Judging Panel in 2003. Fred is also a fully-certificated teacher of the Royal Scottish County Dance Society (RSCDS). He has taught country dance workshops throughout North America, and he has successfully trained Highland dance and Scottish country dance candidates for their teaching credentials since 1998.
Tierney de la Lama
Tierney has had extensive training in ballet, among other styles, starting at the age of four. She trained at the San Jose Cleveland Ballet School, then trained at South Bay Dance Center where she obtained Principal roles in annual performances of The Nutcracker.
Tierney began highland dancing in April of 1994 under the instruction of Norine Harmon. She has performed for audiences including Prince Andrew, Prince Micheal of Kent, and Lord Locharron. Tierney has competed throughout the western region and in major championships. In August of 2006, Tierney became an Associate teacher with the United Kingdom Alliance and became a Member of the British Association of Teachers of Dance in January of 2007.