About

Jennifer Worthen began highland dancing at the age of 7.  Under the instruction of her teacher, Janice Macquarrie, she successfully competed for 15 years, representing Nova Scotia at the Canadian Championships where she placed in the top 6 numerous times.  Jennifer is a 4-time Provincial Champion dancer and a Silver Medalist in the Scottish Championships.

Jennifer is a Fellow and Examiner with the SDTA and has been a member of the RSOBHD Judges' Panel for over 25 years.  She has enjoyed judging throughout Canada, United States, Australia, and Scotland.  Jennifer had the honour of judging the World Championships in 2022!

Besides teaching elementary school for 20 years, Jennifer has been teaching highland dancing for over 35 years and runs a large successful dance school in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.  Her students have won many Championship titles including Provincial, Atlantic Canada Open, Canadian and ScotDance Canada Open.  Her students have placed in the top 6 at the SDTA North American Scholarships and many of her students are Associate, Member and Fellow professionals with the SDTA.

Jennifer has held many volunteer positions in her dancing community.  She was President of the Halifax Highland Dance Association.  She was Secretary, Competition Organizer, and Professional & Dancer Registrar of ScotDance Nova Scotia.  She was an Office Bearer for ScotDance Canada for 8 years, serving as Secretary for 2 years and Vice-President for 6 years.  Jennifer is currently the Corporate Secretary of the Thistle Highland Dance Association and the SDC Co-Chair of the Judges Committee.

As a Competition Organizer, Jennifer is regularly involved in organizing local events.  She was part of the Organizing Committee for the ScotDance Canada Championship Series in 2011, 2017, 2019 and Chair of this event in Halifax in 2023.  Jennifer is a member of the Organizing Committee for the SDTA North American Scholarship & Conference and was the host of this event in Dartmouth in 2022.

Jennifer's husband (Terry) and two boys (Josh and Brandon) are very supportive of her busy dancing career!