Nationals Take Place TODAY
Tessa and Sadie Herb of Brecksville have qualified for the ScotDance USA National Championship by placing second and fourth in the Premier 10 and under 12 division at the Great Lakes Closed Championship. This event takes place during the Alma (MI) Highland Festival over the Memorial Day Weekend and serves as Midwest Regional Qualifier for Scottish dancing.
In Scottish Dance, there are six regions in the United States, and each region gets a turn hosting the National Championship. This year, the West region is hosting, and Nationals will take place in Santa Clara, California on Saturday, July 12.
To qualify, both Tessa and Saddie, who are twins, were ranked in four separate dances: the Highland Fling, the Sword Dance, the Seann Triubhas (pron. “shawn trews”), and Reel, with final placing being the aggregate of all four dances. They both compete at the Premier, or highest level, of Scottish dancing.
Tessa and Sadie started dancing at three years old, mostly just for fun after watching their mom, Stephanie, who is a former Highland dancer and currently certified teacher, teach. Today, both girls receive primary instruction from Kathleen Donnelly, but still receive a little help from mom as they dance for the 87th Cleveland Highland Dancers.
Both started competitively dancing at age seven; their first competition was the 2022 Ohio Scottish Games & Celtic Festival. Tessa & Sadie have many talents: Tessa is a ballet dancer, and Sadie also dances with Egan Irish Dance and participates in volleyball and gymnastics. Both attend Brecksville-Broadview Hts. Elementary School.
