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An Interview with Jennifer Licko, President of the Scottish Cultural Outreach Foundation
A Personal Connection to Scottish Culture
What is your personal connection to Scottish culture? Have you celebrated your Scottish heritage from a young age?
From the age of 10, I immersed myself in Highland dancing, inspired by my aunt, who was both a Highland Dance teacher and a judge. Competing at Scottish games on weekends made the history and culture a constant presence in my life.
Growing up in North Carolina, I later discovered its rich connection to Scottish heritage, which I had unknowingly absorbed through the music & dance of my upbringing.
My time at music school reinforced my affinity for Celtic music, leading me to delve deeper into the Highland cultural arts. The arts are deeply personal, intertwined with identity and community, making each experience profoundly meaningful.
Given your extensive experience as a Highland Dancer, Scots Gaelic Singer, and teacher, and your passion for Scottish heritage, how did these factors inspire you to found the Scottish Cultural Outreach Foundation?
I believe life’s paths are often intertwined by design. My life has revolved around a circle of Scottish influence. Even my husband, originally from Uruguay, danced in a Scottish Country team during his schooling. It feels natural to pursue what I’m passionate about—teaching, music, and dance—so it was a natural progression to create a platform where I could share Scottish arts with younger generations through educational and arts programming.
You've held leadership positions in various organisations, including Clan Guthrie, and the Saint Andrew's Society of Sao Paulo. What do you find most rewarding about these roles, and how do they complement your work with the Foundation?
Working with organizations like Clan Guthrie, Grandfather Mt. Highland games and the Saint Andrew's Society of Sao Paulo is incredibly rewarding. I cherish the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded individuals who share my passion. Every role I take on teaches me something invaluable—be it event planning, information technology, fundraising, or community networking. Our successes are interconnected; when one organization thrives, it uplifts the entire Scottish diaspora community. Personally, my journey as an American who embraces my Scottish ancestry with likeminded organizations has shaped my identity—it reflects my energy and my readiness to dive into the joyous chaos of a ceilidh.
Clan Guthrie
What does being a member of Clan Guthrie mean to you?
Over the past several years I became active with Clan Guthrie, joining the board and fostering connections with my family roots. Working together on projects like saving our family Kirk has been rewarding and enriching. One cherished tradition is our playful toast where we raise our glasses and shout “One, Two, Gu-THREE,” which always elicits laughter. I also fondly remember my father’s journey to discover Clan Guthrie during a Highland Games, which reinforced our connection and fulfilment within the clan community.
One of the things I just love is fashion and design - so implementing the Clan Guthrie tartan into my own life has been a ton of fun. I personally prefer the Ancient Clan Guthrie tartan because it’s a bit more vibrant than the others…and I have my eye on the Kate Coat at ScotlandShop!
The Scottish Cultural Outreach Foundation
Can you describe the primary mission and goals of The Scottish Cultural Outreach Foundation? How does the Foundation seek to promote and preserve Scottish culture?
The Scottish Cultural Outreach Foundation is dedicated to preserving and promoting Scottish heritage through dynamic performing arts and educational initiatives. We collaborate with educators to foster meaningful ties with the Scottish diaspora, ensuring that our culture thrives within communities.
What are your vision and future plans for The Scottish Cultural Outreach Foundation?
We envision schools as the epicentre of our outreach, planting seeds of Scottish culture among students and teachers. In addition to our Highland Echoes performance tours, and our Scotland in The Class program, we aim to expand our educational arts programs this year with a 12-part animated video series for young learners that explores tartan making, Scots Gaelic singing, historical landmarks of Scotland, and Scottish legends. This series will feature insightful interviews with experts across various disciplines, from Gaelic language to traditional music and folklore. The videos are intended for the preschool and young elementary school aged kids.
Are there any specific initiatives or projects you'd like to undertake in the coming years?
We would like to create more opportunities for students in schools to have access to learning the Scottish arts as a apart of their after school programming options on school campuses. We’ve seen this done extensively with British schools in Uruguay and Argentina. We would like to run a beta program at a British School in Sao Paulo where can work closely with the teachers to understand what the challenges of this will be and how to put together a strategy for a sustainable plan. We see the international British schools being the target group due to the alignment of their cultural responsibility. This is an initiative that will not be possible with every school. However, if we can work to make it happen at one school and document the formula needed to implement at other schools, then one school at a time, we may see a huge surplus of Scottish country dancers, highland dancers, pipers and drummers to continue these long lasting traditions.
How can people support & get involved with the Foundation?
Our foundation operates with volunteers and on minimal funding, and we deeply appreciate any support and involvement! Opportunities abound for those willing to assist backstage with the Highland Echoes show, help with events, donate items for our touring needs or become an intern with our communications team. We also welcome businesses to participate through in-kind sponsorships or memberships—in addition to the invaluable support of direct financial donations!
Visit the Foundation's website here.
Scotland in the Class
Did you always want to be a teacher? How did you come up with the idea for Scotland In The Class?
Teaching feels like my calling, rooted in a family legacy of educators. I cherished the idea of introducing children to Scottish culture in an engaging, non-traditional way. The Scotland In The Class program was born from my experiences performing Scottish music and dance for over 200 schools, where I recognized the importance of preparing lesson plans that excited both the students and teachers.
What’s the most rewarding thing about seeing children connect with Scottish history and culture?
Witnessing children discover their Scottish heritage for the first time is incredible. More than that, it’s heart-warming to see them engaging in activities like the Highland Fling, embracing not just potentially their heritage but also celebrating cultural diversity. This experience fosters kindness and compassion among young minds and is a vital aspect of our mission.
Can you describe the typical structure of a Scotland In The Class lesson? What kinds of activities and materials do you use to engage students?
Our lesson plans align with educational standards, incorporating engaging elements like inquiry-based learning. Students actively participate through activities such as learning and creating their own waulking songs, writing their own selkie stories, or building a unicorn habitat. We ensure our materials are comprehensive, removing the burden of preparation from teachers and allowing them to focus on fostering excitement in their classrooms.
All lessons are made to integrate with the basic and most common elementary school standards meaning that the lessons address what teachers are required to teach….so essentially we are saving them lesson planning time! WIN WIN!
How can schools, teachers and organisations get involved & access the programme?
Teachers and schools can access our free lesson plans at scotlandintheclass.com. Simply sign up to create an account, and all resources can be easily downloaded for classroom use.
Highland Echoes
What sets Highland Echoes apart from other Scottish-themed performances?
What sets Highland Echoes apart from other Scottish-themed performances is our dedication to celebrating the rich tapestry of Scottish history and culture while emphasizing the unique perspectives of our diaspora communities worldwide—whether in Argentina, Canada, North Carolina, Australia, or beyond. The name "Highland Echoes" symbolizes how our cultural expressions resonate differently depending on our surroundings and upbringing. While we share a common Scottish heritage, each community adds its own flavour, highlighting the beautiful variations in our shared stories.
How do you ensure that the show offers a unique and captivating experience for audiences?
At Highland Echoes, we believe that an exceptional performance goes beyond the stage. We infuse fun surprises throughout the show—be it welcomed Scottish shortbread at the entrance, spontaneous clan shoutouts, or playful contests like “who wears tartan best.” Our goal is for every audience member to leave with a memorable experience that lingers long after the curtain falls.
How did you select the specific music and dance pieces featured in Highland Echoes?
Our show honours traditional music, but it predominantly showcases original compositions that reflect contemporary experiences. As an American, I understand that while classics like "Westering Home" and "Loch Lomond" hold a special place in our hearts, we also need new music that mirrors who we are today. This emphasis on original work allows our audiences to connect with us authentically, seeing reflections of their own identities within our performance.
The Highland dancing in our show is thoughtfully choreographed to suit each composition, telling stories and expressing emotions through traditional Highland Dance movement. Instead of simply showcasing competitive style dance typically seen, we create moments that resonate in a theatre setting. For instance, we feature a tango-style piece that blends elements of Highland dance with Argentine tango, showcasing the diversity within our artistic expression. These unique elements not only set us apart but ensure that our narrative is centered on the audience’s experience.
What criteria did you use to ensure that the performances are both authentic and entertaining? The Highland Echoes dance team consists of champions from around the world. How did you select these talented dancers, and what qualities were you looking for?
Authentic and accurate representation of the tradition is paramount to our performances and professionalism is essential. We intentionally seek performers from all corners of the globe—Brazil, Australia, Scotland, Canada, and the U.S.—who have been involved in the Scottish arts through competition, specialized instruction and performance experience. Each dancer is a premier-level dancer as per the rules and regulations of the Royal Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing (RSOBHD).
However, it is also important to understand that we seek relatability for our audiences. We want our audiences to be able to relate to our performers and their passion for their heritage. We want them to appreciate who they because of our collective past.
Our performers are experts in the traditional Scottish elements of their crafts, but in this show, they use those elements to represent the Scottish diaspora - and our echoes have variations depending on where we are in the current time and place. Telling the story of how history lives on in the now of our lives. It’s not just about the Past and it’s not just about Scotland. It’s about being a part of a bigger culture of influences that make us all appreciate our history, heritage and culture around us.
You mentioned that Highland Echoes aims to bridge generational gaps. How do you achieve this goal through the show's content and presentation?
Highland Echoes aims to span generational divides through engaging content that appeals to audiences of all backgrounds by a team that spans from 76 years in age to 18 years. Our more mature team members share their expertise and advice along side of our younger team members who have edgy ideas and thoughts. Collectively we find a way to share our vision in a way that can meet younger and more mature audiences a like.
We also bridge other demographic gaps as we demonstrate in our performances that anyone, regardless of body type, colour, gender or background, can partake in and contribute to the Scottish artistic diaspora community - reinforcing the idea that these arts inclusive.
What do you hope the lasting impact of Highland Echoes will be? Do you see it as a way to create a lasting legacy for Scottish cultural arts?
Our vision extends beyond the here and now. Highland Echoes wishes to inspire future generations, proving that Scottish cultural arts can thrive in diversity. We hope to show the world that Scottish arts are inclusive and dynamic, all are welcome to learn and enjoy. Much like Riverdance has done for Irish Culture - we hope to make the same type of impact on the next generations of dancers and musicians and enthusiasts of the Scottish arts. Highland Dance and Scottish music is not exclusive to people in Scotland just as Irish dance isn’t exclusive to the people of Ireland. If we can raise an awareness of this style of dance and music to future generations to help it thrive, then we have been successful.
What can people expect to discover at the Highland Echoes Show?
Audiences can expect to learn about Scotland’s History, legends, and some historical perspectives on what migration of the highland people could have been like. They will experience all this through the music, the dance, the storytelling, and costumes. They can expect to hear the traditional style of Scottish music through original compositions on bagpipes, fiddle, vocals and thought out arrangements. Before the show we send out a few of our musical tracks to advance ticket buyers for audiences to get to know some of our most popular pieces!
Audiences will discover more about the significance of the of migrations of Scottish people around the world. For example, how and why the Canadian Cape Breton community has been a vital part of the preservation of ancient highland culture in language and in the form of step dancing that was lost in Scotland but only preserved due to the Scottish who settled in Nova Scotia. And because of this we are able to share this form of dance in the show as well as the highland dance and national dance styles in hornpipes and jigs.
Audiences may discover their own echoes of Scottish culture, and this connection can foster a deeper appreciation for the Cultural influences that surrounds us, enriching our collective identity in the process.
To be a part of this unique cultural journey, audiences can purchase tickets for the show or for the Highland Holiday show also produced by Highland Echoes at highlandechoes.com