Teachers

Victoria Nichols, Director and Teacher

Miss Victoria is a champion Highland dancer from Beckwith, Ontario. She performs and teaches highland while pursuing her academic and professional goals. Victoria is currently studying Linguistics at the University of Ottawa and holds a Master of Education specializing in Educational Leadership, Policy, and Evaluation, as well as a B.A. (Honours) in Psychology, with a minor in Criminology.

In addition to her dance career, Victoria is an occasional high school teacher with over 2,500 academic teaching hours since 2022, a provincially licensed security guard, and a competitive amateur bodybuilder with the Canadian Physique Alliance. She is professionally insured to teach highland dancing and maintains a current Vulnerable Sector Record Check, along with certification in Standard First Aid, CPR-C, and AED.

Victoria enjoyed a very successful competitive career consistently winning awards and placings at highland competitions, championships and premierships, throughout North America and Scotland. She is an accredited highland dancing teacher with the British Association of Teachers of Dance (B.A.T.D.) and the Scottish Dance Teachers’ Alliance (SDTA), as well as a professional member of ScotDance Ontario and ScotDance Canada. In addition to highland dancing, Victoria has completed the B.A.T.D. pre-professional examinations in Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Modern. Before passing her highland professional examination (with distinction), Victoria was also nominated annually as a scholarship candidate for B.A.T.D. in highland, ballet, modern/jazz and tap. She competed at the B.A.T.D. North American Sadie Simpson Highland Scholarships, from 2015 to 2019 (San Diego, Toronto, Nashville, Banff and Washington DC) and was consistently awarded each year within the top six placings in the Masterclass and/or Solo Choreography at each scholarship event, from among the hundreds of other dancers nominated from across North America.

Victoria has a passion for performing and she loves to travel. She enjoys sharing highland dancing with others at local community events and international military tattoos. Victoria has danced for the Basel Tattoo in Switzerland, with the Canadiana Celtic Elite Dance Team in 2018 & 2023, and then as a member of the International Basel Tattoo Team in 2019. From 2019 to 2023, she was also a member of the prestigious Tattoo Dance Company for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (REMT) and she danced each August in Edinburgh Scotland. She was also a cast member for REMT in Sydney Australia in 2019 and the Virginia International Tattoo in May 2022.

Victoria began dancing at three years old with Rosemary Breman in Carleton Place. She now trains with Ellen Cameron Maloney / Ellen Cameron Highland Dancers in St Andrews ON (since 2021). She is very excited that her local highland students will also benefit from guidance and tutoring from Mrs. Cameron. Victoria also collaborates with other highland dancing professionals in the surrounding region, to maximize choreography, performance opportunities, examinations, and other meaningful experiences for her dancers.

Miss Victoria encourages her student to work hard — in dance and academically — and to reach for the stars!

Elizabeth Cox, Junior Teacher

Miss Elizabeth, a dynamic and accomplished 17-year-old, has already made significant strides in both her academic and dance journeys. After graduating high school in only three years, she is now pursuing her studies at Carleton University, all while continuing to nurture her lifelong passion for dance. Having begun her dance journey at the tender age of three, Elizabeth has spent countless hours honing her craft across a wide range of dance styles, including ballet, pointe, jazz, and tap.

Elizabeth’s dedication to dance was evident from an early age, and her commitment was further solidified when she began training under the renowned Svetlana Timtsenko. Under Timtsenko’s expert guidance, Elizabeth’s talent flourished, leading to her securing a role in the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s prestigious production of The Nutcracker. This experience was a defining moment in Elizabeth’s dance career, setting the stage for her future endeavors.

In addition to her classical ballet training, Elizabeth discovered a deep passion for highland dance, a discipline she has pursued with vigor over the past three years. Her highland dance journey began at the Rosemary Breman School of Dance, where she quickly demonstrated her talent and determination. Elizabeth now continues to refine her skills in highland dance under the tutelage of Victoria Nichols and Ellen Cameron Maloney, both of whom have played pivotal roles in her development as a dancer.

Beyond highland dance, Elizabeth is equally dedicated to advancing her skills in ballet and other dance genres at Redeemer Dance Academy, where she trains under the watchful eye of Ms. Leia Antunes. This comprehensive training has not only expanded her technical abilities but has also deepened her love for performing. Elizabeth thrives on stage, with ballet and highland dance being her favorite styles to showcase.

Elizabeth’s love for dance is not limited to her own growth; she is equally passionate about teaching. She finds great fulfillment in working with young dancers, helping them discover their own love for dance and guiding them in their development. Watching her students progress and blossom is a source of joy and inspiration for Elizabeth.

As she continues her journey at Carleton University and in the dance world, Elizabeth remains committed to pursuing excellence in everything she does, both as a performer and a mentor.

Mayla Kozuska, Junior Teacher

Miss Mayla is a premier competitive highland dancer and high school student in Renfrew County. She makes the trip to Franktown each week, while successfully balancing her academic priorities and her passion for highland dancing.  

Bio coming soon!

Adeline Barry Corneau, Junior Teacher

Miss Adeline is a premier competitive highland dancer and university student at Dalhousie University. When home during school breaks, she joins us for highland classes — and our dancers really look forward to seeing her! At the age of four years old, Adeline began training with Rosemary Breman in Carleton Place, where she first developed her passion for dance.  Adeline is now continuing her highland training with Ellen Cameron Maloney and Victoria Nichols.

As an intermediate dancer, Adeline placed first in the Intermediate special event Codiac Hornpipe and as the National Event Overall Winner at the ScotDance Canadian Championship Series (SDCCS) in Moncton, NB 2019. As a premier dancer, Adeline has continued her success, winning top placings and trophies at regional and national competitions across Canada.

Adeline also has instruction in Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Modern, Tap and recreational Musical Theatre. Adeline has participated in all BATD exams, often receiving the highest examination results for her efforts. She was selected and participated in both the B.A.T.D. North American Sadie Simpson Highland Scholarships in Washington, DC (2019) and Montreal QC (2022), as well as the American Trixie Hardy Theatre Branch Scholarships (2019) in Scarborough, ON.

Adeline danced for the Basel Tattoo in Switzerland in 2024, as a member of the International Basel Tattoo Team. Previously, she was also selected for minor roles in the Nutcracker at the National Arts Centre (NAC) through the Alberta Ballet and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet.  She has danced in several seasonal parades including local Christmas parades, Disney Parade, FLA and Times Square, NYC. Adeline has also trained with Linda Jamieson for Ballet and other genres of dance.

Adeline loves to perform, especially as a highland dancer. She is fluently bilingual, enjoys instruction, training, choreography and sharing her love of dance with others. She seeks opportunities for growth and improvement and attends any workshop she can find. Miss Adeline finds her inspiration in others and is very excited to meet you all in class!