Meet the Instructors
Director: Kate DeGood
Director: Kate DeGood
Director: Kate DeGood
Over the last 25 years, Kate’s competitive dancing career has brought worldwide championship success in every age category. Kate is a 2-time World First Runner-up, 2-time World 2nd Runner-up, and 11-time World Finalist. She is the holder of over 100 major championship titles throughout the United States, Canada, Scotland, and Australia. She is a 7–time US Champion and has placed in the top 6 in the World Championships 8 times. Kate is a Fellow of the BATD and SDTA and Chairperson of the BATD Great Lakes Region. Kate is an R.S.O.B.H.D. Judge, and passed the exam at the youngest possible age of 21. Kate is also a member of FUSTA, and has served as Chairperson the Choreography Committee.
Kate teaches at the Kate DeGood School of Dance at the Detroit St. Andrew’s Society’s Kilgour Centre in Troy, MI. Her studio includes Champion dancers who have qualified as USIR Representatives for the Midwest, and placed in the top 6 at Championships in Scotland, Canada, and the US including USIR and North American Championships. Kate also judges, lectures, and performs internationally. She has special interests in training candidates for Professional teaching exams and R.S.O.B.H.D. Judges exams, creating large group choreographies, and helping Premier dancers advance to Champion level dancers.
Jennifer Craig-Lopez
Director: Kate DeGood
Director: Kate DeGood
Jennifer has been studying and competing in Highland dance for over 10 years. She currently studies under Kate DeGood, along with helping her to instruct classes. In her years competing, she has placed top 6 in numerous championships throughout the United States, Canada, and Scotland. This also includes placing top 10 in the United States twice and winning the WOHDA pre-championship. Along with success in competition, she has been a part of many performance groups. Jennifer has been one of two featured dancers for the Chelsea House Orchestra and North Creek Fiddlers, along with Lochanna Mora Highland Dance Company, an adult premier Highland dance performance group. Jennifer passed her BATD Highland Members Exam “highly commended” in 2014. She has been teaching ever since and has many students who have had many successes in competition and performances.
Jennifer completed her bachelor's degree in Exercise Science from the University of Toledo and is currently finishing her degree to become a Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant. While being a full time student, competitive dancer, and teacher, she enjoys being able to use her knowledge on kinesiology to help Highland dancers.
Jessica Craig
Director: Kate DeGood
Jessica Craig
For over 10 years, Jessica has studied Highland Dance, currently under the instruction of Kate DeGood. Her dance career has included winning the Midwest Regional Championships, placing top 10 in the United States, as well as numerous overall trophy winnings throughout the United States and Canada. Outside of competition, Jessica has been a member of several performance groups performing around the United States. Jessica passed her members exam with the top honor of, “Highly Commended” in 2016, qualifying her to teach Highland Dance.
Jessica has a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, Bachelors Degree in Music, as well as a Master’s in Marketing Research. She works as a Market Research professional alongside actively competing and teaching Highland Dance.