Chatting with Jacqueline Smith – 4 time World Highland Dance Champion from Ontario, Canada pictured here with Delma Wilson (middle) and Former World Champion Carleigh Leighton at the World of Highland Dancing Conference in Las Vegas 2006.

Well, Jackie, you’re soon to come to Australia to be a part of the International Highland Dancing Championships, are you looking forward to the trip?
I am so excited and was extremely honoured to get the invitation. The 23-hours of flying will be ‘challenging’ but hopefully I’ll luck out like I did in 1996 and have a row of seats to myself, lie down and catch some zzz’s.

While you are here you’ll be judging, teaching and returning to the stage in Down Under the Kilt – Dreamtime Stories, what can the audience expect from your performance?
Highland dance is my passion so I hope everyone will enjoy the performance as much as I will enjoy doing it. I will do my best to show the audience both the athleticism and the grace of highland dance.

When you were in Australia last, back in 1996, you won the Champion of Champions event, before going on to win the World Championship for the 4th time, what was that year like for you?
1996 was one of my most memorable competitive years. Travelling and competing in Australia was a dream come true. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Winning the World’s that year was the icing on the cake and a wonderful way to complete my competitive career.

And of course you never had it easy competing against the likes of the Mitchelson brothers and Gregor Bowman. What training methods did you use to get to the top at that time?
Practice, practice, practice!!! Every day for hours! Yes, we knew it would be tough to “beat the boys” but Delma Wilson (my teacher of 9 years) never gave up. I had won the Juvenile and the Junior Worlds but our ultimate goal was to win the Adult World’s. Delma was moving back to Scotland to live after Cowal Games in 1993 and I truly wanted to do it for her. We had been through so much together. So I spent as much time training with her as possible and many hours at home ensuring I was fixing her corrections. When it happened, it was an unbelievable feeling. I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to compete with such incredible dancers and be a part of their era. My Adult World’s win in 1996 was very special too. I had thought I could stop competing after 1993 but missed it so much. Sandra Bald Jones was my coach after Delma moved and she encouraged me to continue. I did the same training as previous years….practice, practice, practice, working on strength and stamina. I was thrilled to win again and under her instruction as she is one special lady.

You’ve since become a teacher and a judge, how did you handle making that transition?
It was a difficult decision to hang up my competitive shoes. Once I completed University and got engaged I knew that my life would be changing and I wouldn’t have the necessary time to train to be at the level I wanted to be. Highland dancing has been such a big part of my life, I couldn’t imagine not being involved in it so I’m glad to still be a part of it, teaching and judging.

You have some lovely dancers back home in Ontario, and the results have really come your way, how do you translate what you put on the stage to bring out the success in your dancers? We all are unique and have different training techniques that work for us. Each dancer requires a different teaching method to get results. Former teachers’ methods are still fresh in my mind so naturally I draw from that. I encourage them to take home two or three corrections and to work on them to perfection before the next class. I ask my dancers to dance their best at every competition. No one can predict the results but they should feel proud of themselves if they have performed their best. By travelling the world competing and being a dedicated competitor, I often use past experiences to guide my dancers to reach their goals.

Do you prefer teaching, judging or dancing?
I thoroughly enjoy teaching and judging. I get great enjoyment seeing dancers improve and grow as individuals. Judging has really given me a new perspective and it’s a real honour to be the one determining the outcome of a competition. But to be honest, I do miss competing. That was my true love. Being on the stage and dancing in front of so many people. There’s nothing like it. Plus the self-fulfilment one gets when you’ve danced your best is unmatchable.

Now tell me about your days with the Scottish Dance Company of Canada.
Being a member and soloist of the Scottish Dance Company of Canada was a great experience. One of my fondest memories is performing in their production “Immrama” and partnered with Peter Archibald and Gregor Bowman. Having the opportunity to meet new friends, travel and dance together as a group was so much fun. It was nice to continue performing for a few years after retiring from competition.

Growing up in Ontario when it became one of the great strengths of the dancing world, who did you look up to?
If I were to choose one dancer whom I idolized most it would be Sandy Couper, an Ontario and Canadian Champion. The first time I saw Sandy dance, I was amazed at how effortless her dancing looked but still showed elevation, sharpness and grace. And of course I also looked up to Delma Wilson (my teacher of 9 years) because wow when she would demonstrate how she wanted things done and dance beside me…it was amazing. I wanted to match her.

And of course you trained with other World Champions such as Carleigh Leighton and Natalie Quick, classes must have been intense?
Yes dance classes were intense, but I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. They were fun too. It was awesome practicing with other champions as we really pushed each other and became better dancers having each other to pace with.

Any tips out there for the young dancers of today?
One saying we always lived by and still do is” Attitude is Altitude” If you’re mentally in a great mood, feel positive, and believe in yourself you will dance much better and rise to the occasion. Always smile and have fun!

And… remember to eat your Wheaties for breakfast….Call me superstitious but Wheaties cereal came with me all across the World to every competition.

Thanks for spending time with DUTK.com.au

Thank you.

Jackie will be in Australia from the 20-23rd July starring in Douglas McFarland's Down Under the Kilt - Dreamtime Stories and judging the International Highland Dancing Championships of Australia. Jackie will give a workshop with fellow International guest Shendl Russell from Prestwick, Scotland. DUTK.com.au caught up with Shendl earlier in the year, you can read the interview here.