Meet the Instructors
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 including Midwest and US Champions. 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
Jennifer has been studying and competing in Highland dance for over 15 years. She studied under Kate DeGood for over 10 years. In her years competing, she has won and placed top 6 in numerous championships throughout the United States, Canada, and Scotland. She was honored to represent the MidWest region 5 times in the United States Inter-Regional Championship and place top 6. 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 was a Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant for several years. She enjoys being able to use her knowledge in kinesiology when working with our dancers.
Katie Steih
Katie Steih
Katie has been studying and competing Highland Dance for over 10 years, and actively studies and teaches with Kate DeGood. In her career, she has finished top 10 in several nationwide competitions, as well as winning overall titles in both the US and Canada. In addition to competing, Katie is an avid performer and has been a member of tattoo dance companies in the US, Canada, and Europe. She passed her BATD associates exam “Highly Commended” in 2020.
Outside of dance, Katie completed her Bachelor’s Degrees in English and World Language and Culture at Alma College while also a member of their Kiltie Dance Company, and she has recently taught English as a Foreign Language.
