About
Highland Dancing is Scotland’s traditional dance started in the 19th century.
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Today, dancers aspire to dance with grace, strength, ease and endurance. Highland Dancing requires precise footwork, flawless control as well as upper body, arm and leg strength. Dancing is a great way to improve flexibility, confidence, coordination and self-discipline all while getting fit!
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Cotter Academy of Highland Dancing heavily focuses on cultivating a nurturing and fun environment for students to develop technique and strength.
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​Classes are available to all genders from the age of 2. Beginners to Advanced students are welcomed!
Mission
Our mission is to spark a lifelong love for highland dance by creating a supportive and motivational space where individuals of all ages and skill levels can experience the joy and traditions of such a unique dance form. We are committed to nurturing creativity, building confidence, and strengthening community through high quality tuition and engaging performances.
Amalia Cotter
NDAAI Teacher (2010)
Bachelor of Nursing (2012)
RSOBHD Judge (2015)
Certificate 3 Fitness (2016)
Certificate 4 fitness (2016)
NDAAI Examiner (2022)
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Amalia Cotter's journey in Highland dancing began at the age of four, igniting a lifelong passion for the traditional Scottish dance form. Her dedication and love of dance led her to open the Cotter Academy of Highland Dancing in 2015, the same year she successfully passed the RSOBHD Judges test, marking a significant milestone in her career.
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As a champion dancer, Amalia proudly represented Australia as part of OzScot Australia, performing in numerous Tattoos around the world and consistently securing top placements in Championships across the country. She retired from competitive dance in 2018 and welcomed the birth of her daughter in 2019.
Amalia has served as the treasurer for the National Dancing Association of Australasia Incorporated (NDAAI) since 2018. Her commitment to excellence and education is further reflected in her role as an examiner with the NDAAI, a position she proudly took on in 2022.
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In addition to her dance career, Amalia is a registered nurse. Recently, she has focused her expertise in the training and assessing sector, teaching health support services and fitness. Holding certificates III and IV in fitness, she leverages her extensive health background and fitness knowledge to design effective training programs for her dancers, ensuring they achieve their fullest potential.
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Amalia leads an active lifestyle, cherishing time spent with her husband and daughter, often exploring the great outdoors through hiking. She continues to inspire and nurture the next generation of Highland dancers, combining her love for dance with her dedication to health and fitness.
CONTACT US
If you have any enquiries about our classes, times or community, feel free to contact us!
Just fill out the contact form and we will get straight back to you! Upon form submission, you will receive an immediate return email with the appropriate contact details should you want to get in touch in a more personal manner.
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Academy address: Rosalie Baptist Church Hall
97 Fernberg Rd, Paddington, QLD Australia
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Springfield Lakes address on request