Paul Makin

Journalist

A little piece of Scotland has arrived in Mossman with the forming of the SharCeltica Highland Dance troupe. Scottish Highland Dancing is a celebration of the Scottish spirit, and the spirit is alive and well in the Douglas Shire.

Dance teacher Sharlene Cardilini was only three when she started dancing and was teaching it at 16 years of age. She was a teacher with Bodies in Motion for six years but has now gone out on her own to create SharCeltica. Classes currently running are for school aged students, with an adult group starting this month and expressions of interest are being taken from any age dancers to learn Highland Dancing. Now Sharlene has her eyes set on the 2023 Queensland Highland Dancing Championships, Far North Queensland Titles and Competition being held in Homehill near Townsville.

She, her team of young’uns and supporters head there on the 15th and 16th of this month. Sharlene told Newsport that her students don’t have a win at any cost attitude “We only have one rule and that is to have fun and make at least one new friend at any competition we attend” she said. With any Highland Dancing you’d expect bagpipes, but Sharlene says that’s not a reality at this time, BUT “We do know there’s bagpipers in Mossman and the Shire so watch this space” she said.

Done it before

Sharlene has a great track record in this type of competition. Whist teaching in Arnhem Land, one of her students was selected as part of the elite OzScot Australia Highland Dancing team who performed at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Sydney. Sharlene says Highland Dancing for youngsters is great for their confidence and helps them make friends, thus providing tools and skills that dancers carry through into everyday life and adulthood.