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Jessica McElhaney

Founder, ScotDance Sacramento

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jessica@scotdancesacramento.com

https://www.scotdancesacramento.com

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Six Highland Dancers from Western Region Headed to National Championships, Including Five from Greater Sacramento Area

Sacramento, CA — May 24, 2025 — Six dancers from ScotDance Sacramento, including five with ties to the greater Sacramento region, have earned coveted spots at the U.S. National Highland Dance Championships this summer. Selected through the prestigious Western Region Championships, these talented performers will represent the region—which includes California, Arizona, Nevada, and Hawaii—on the national stage.

The U.S. National Championships, sanctioned by the Royal Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing, are organized by ScotDance USA and showcase the top competitive Highland dancers in the country. Competitors must qualify through regional championships in traditional events including the Highland Fling, Sword Dance, Seann Triubhas, and Strathspey and Reel.

The Sacramento-area representatives include:

• Melanie Roof, Folsom
  
  

• Veronica Paskulin, Carmichael native (currently based in New York City)
  
  

• Naomi Laughlin, Yuba City — first-time regional competitor and first runner-up overall
  
  

• Kendall Blauser, Elk Grove
  
  

• Audrey Young, Citrus Heights — also a first-time national representative
  
  

The sixth dancer, Mallory Reich of Mesa, Arizona, is also a national qualifier and trains under ScotDance Sacramento’s director, Kyla Groeschel.

“We’re incredibly proud of all our dancers,” said Kyla, who has taught Highland dancing for over 40 years. “It’s particularly inspiring to see newcomers like Naomi and Audrey achieve such high honors in their first major competitions. Their hard work and passion really shine.”

ScotDance Sacramento offers classes in Scottish Highland dance for all ages and experience levels, with a focus on discipline, cultural heritage, and athletic performance. Highland dance is a centuries-old Scottish tradition that blends athleticism, music, and artistry.

The 2025 U.S. National Championships will be held in Santa Clara, California, on July 12, 2025.

For more information about Highland dancing or how to enroll in classes, visit www.scotdancesacramento.com or follow @scotdancesacto on social media.