Tamara started with the Boise Highlanders with her sisters back in 2005. Tamara was originally drawn to the sport through the love of Scottish culture and connecting to her own ancestry.
Since then her love for dance has grown, Tamara has competed in Highland dancing in the Northwest, studied with world champion Highland dance teachers, and explored ballet and swing dancing. She would love to continue exploring different forms and histories of dance. Tamara is pursuing her Highland dance teaching certification through the British Association of Teachers of Dancers alongside her studies at Boise State University, where she is majoring in Mechanical Engineering with a Leadership Studies and Human Resources certificate.
Tamara is the Dance Lead teacher for the Boise Highlanders, and loves to teach and coordinate the Dance Corps. She loves the Boise community and Scottish culture, and plans to continue performing for a long time to come!
Photo courtesy of Jacquelynn Holly Photography
Aodhán Crawford
Aodhán’s background in dance began with his Native American Heritage, and growing up dancing in the Pow Wow arena.
He failed epically at the highland games in his early 20’s but in October, 2017 he decided to try his luck at Highland Dancing to honor his Scottish heritage. His Grandfather’s side of his family has been living in Idaho since 1887 and he isn’t planning on leaving anytime soon.
He sports a large white rat on his Coat of Arms, enjoys horse archery, reading and spending time with Dexter (his little dog). Ever curious, he is always up to something new and pressing the uniform Dress code to the limit, as well as Tammy’s patience.
He took a taxidermy apprenticeship in his early 20’s and makes his living as an artist. Aodhán takes dancing very seriously but has never been much of a competitor. He is a student of history he will talk your ear off about the commonalities of Highland and Native American culture and insist you visit his museum-like home just to try on an authentic beaver fur top hat from the 1800’s (just so you can understand what exactly drove America’s historic fur trade that lead his Scottish Ancestors to meet his Native American Ancestors).
….*sigh*…Ladies and gentlemen…. The Sherlock Holmes of the Dance Corps.
Photo courtesy of Jacquelynn Holly Photography
Amy Ginter
Amy originally joined the Boise Highlanders in the late 90’s.
She danced for a few years then took a 12 year break for school and work outside Idaho.
She rejoined the band in 2013. She enjoys dancing and teaching new students.
Photo courtesy of Jacquelynn Holly Photography
Addie Houle
Photo courtesy of Jacquelynn Holly Photography
Jenny Houle
Photo courtesy of Jacquelynn Holly Photography
Nikita Scott
Nikita has been studying ballet, jazz and contemporary at Ballet Idaho since the age of 5. Under the direction of Peter Anastos, Nikita performed for the eighth year in Ballet Idaho's production of the Nutcracker in 2017.
Nikita's exploration of Scottish Highland Dance began at the age of 8 when she joined the Boise Highlanders in 2013. Her formal training in Scottish Highland Dance is under the direction of Fred DeMarse, Fellow of the British Association of Teachers of Dance (BATD) and the San Jose School of Highland Dance. Nikita also competes at the championship level in Highland Dance Competitions, Championships, and Premierships in the US and Canada. In 2017, Nikita was invited to perform in the closing ceremony of the Caledonian Club of San Francisco Games/Western Region Open Championship.
Nikita loves sharing her passion for dance and Scottish culture with audiences where she strives to combine precision of movement with graceful musicality. Her favorite dance is the Blue Bonnets Over the Boarder which allows her to combine the clear technique of highland dance with the artistry of ballet.
Megan Sinclair
Photo courtesy of Jacquelynn Holly Photography
Isabelle Wingrove
Isobel joined the Boise Highlanders dancers in October 2014. She took a year's hiatus in 2015 to focus on other things, and returned to the Boise Highlanders in summer 2016, earning her kilt in March 2017.
Isobel loves the bagpipes, and enjoys dancing with the pipers. Isobel is also an active Irish dancer.
Outside of dance, Isobel enjoys reading, swimming, music, coding, and Girl Scouts. She recently started studying aerial acrobatics as part of her busy school schedule this year.
Megan Wingrove
Megn danced before she could talk, and she spoke early! Megan joined the Boise Highlanders in October 2014 and earned her kilt in November 2015. She continues to be the youngest performing member of the band, and has never turned down an opportunity to perform.
Her highland dance instruction is under the direction of Fred DeMarse, Fellow of the British Association of Teachers of Dance (BATD), and she is an active competitor in addition to performances with the Boise Highlanders, with other dance groups and independently. She is already working toward her teaching certification in a few years.
Megan studies and performs in multiple dance genres, including ballet, lyrical and jazz, and has recently been selected to join an audition-only competitive team. She is dedicated to improving her overall technique and skill, with particular interest in how these connect between the different disciplines.
In addition to dance, Megan participates in orchestra, robotics team (part of the First Lego league), book club, and Girl Scouts, and fills her free time with reading, drawing and animals.
