Creating a fun and inviting dance class.

Welcome to Mid-Columbia School of Highland Dance (MCSHD)! Here at MCSHD we focus on keeping tradition alive by dancing traditional Highland dances. At MCSHD, we teach a wide range of dancers and skills from wee ones 18 months old all the way through championship level Premiers. We strongly believe in open enrollment of all skill and ability levels.

Have you heard of Scotland? What about hearing the bagpipes? And what about those funny looking skirts? This style of dance originated from Scotland. Please don’t worry if you are not Scottish or Celtic. We welcome EVERYONE! Our dance uses bagpipes and sometimes Celtic inspired music. We also wear those funny looking skirts called "kilts". Highland dancing isn't just dance, but it is also a sport. Did you know that Highland dancing has two cousins? They are Irish Step dancing (think River Dance or Lord of the Dance) and Ballet. One really cool dance that separates us Highland dancers from the rest of the dancing world is that we get to dance with swords! So, come on out boys, girls, and parents!

The goal here at MCSHD is to educate, inspire, and keep the traditional dances alive that have been passed down since the 1700's. Please feel free to research and YouTube our dances to see if you'd be interested in learning this fun sport- Highland Fling, Sword dance, Irish Jig, Sailors Hornpipe, Strathspey and Highland Reel, Sean Truibhas, Highland Laddie, Wilt Thou Go To the Barracks Johnny, Earl of Errol, Scottish Lilt, Scotch Measure, Village Maid,  Flora McDonald's Fancy, Blue Bonnets Over the Border. These are most of the dances that dancers will learn.

Cassandra Humphrys, Instructor

Miss Cassie is a native Washingtonian where she was born and raised in Richland. She has many years invested in dancing. Her interest in dance started when she was a very young girl; while visiting her older cousin in Missouri, her cousin was having a private Ballet lesson. Right then and there, Miss Cassie's love for dance blossomed! Miss Cassie has studied Ballet, Tap, Irish Step dance, and Highland dance. Over the years, Miss Cassie has come to love Highland dance so much that she only focused her energy on it. She has had over 20 years of competitive dancing experience that she continues as often as possible. Miss Cassie is a certified dance instructor with the Royal Scottish Official Board of Highland Dance (RSOBHD) after passing an exam through the British Association of Teachers of Dance (BATD) in July of 2017. She loves to teach and share her knowledge with not just her students, but with the students at Spokane's School of Highland Dance. She's had two different teachers- Mrs Marie Flemming (Grimes- Darling)and Mrs Teresa Ball- Robinson. Miss Cassie continues her dancing career by traveling up to Spokane as often as she can for her dance lessons with Mrs Darling. Miss Cassie has traveled all over the U.S. to compete in Highland dance. And she's also traveled to Canada and Scotland to compete! Over her two decades of having a competitive career, she’s had a very successful and fulfilling run by competing in numerous Championships and receiving respectable awards. Outside of the dance studio, Miss Cassie can be found playing with her daughter, enjoying her animals, spending time with family and friends, or working on her Psychology degree, or even working at Kadlec Regional Medical Center. She is ready for you to start your dance journey with her and to inspire you to be the best dancer that you can be!

Miss Cassie on the left after a Regional Championship dance competition with her friends Jaime, her teacher Miss Marie, dance friends Emily, and Abby.