Perthshire Highland dancer picks up dream crown in global competition

The 17-year-old beat out competitors from all over the world including USA, Canada and Australia, who travel to compete at the prestigious event.

Perthshire teenager Connie Urquhart realised her dream to be crowned Junior Highland Dance World Champion at the Cowal Gathering.

Competitors from all over the world including USA, Canada and Australia travel to compete at this prestigious event.

Having had an excellent year in competition, Connie, 17, was also earlier awarded the European and British titles and has also just been announced as the Royal Scottish Official Board UK Champion of Champions for 2026.

Of the three age category world champions, Scone’s Connie was the only Scottish winner with the Juvenile and Adult winners being Canadian dancers. She was also awarded the top Scottish Junior dancer.

Connie trains with Nicola Grant in Kirriemuir where she has worked towards the goal of being World Champion. she also trains with her mum, Gillian Urquhart who runs the Gillian Brough Dance School in Scone.

Furthermore, Perthshire can claim the top two dancers in the Junior World category. Lucy Patton from Coupar Angus finished a fantastic second place being runner0up in the same category. Lucy, 17 has had an outstanding progression in Highland Dance only entering the Premier competition stage in 2023. She attends classes with the Linda Napier School of Dance, in Coupar Angus.

Gillian said: “Highland Dance is a real mixture of strength, grace and power and training reflects this. Four dances – Highland Fling, Swords Dance, Seann Triubhas and Reel – are danced in the World Championship qualifiers.

“Connie and Lucy then went on to compete in these dances in the World Championship Final coming out first and secnd with the most points overall.

"Many hours of dedicated work go into preparing the dancers for around 16 minutes of performance over the event.

“What makes this particularly special is that the top two in the Junior Worlds are very good friends both in and out of dancing and both are pupils of Perth Academy.

"Connie and Lucy are currently in the Netherlands performing in the Dutch International Tattoo for a week.

"They then have a few more Championships to finish the 2026 competitive season."