Elinor M. Vandegrift

Elinor Vandegrift has been an inspiration to novice dancers and experts alike not only in Seattle but throughout the US, Canada and beyond. She has served the Society as a dancer, an administrator, a teacher, a tutor, an examiner and an innovator.

In 1968 Elinor became a member of the RSCDS.  She received her full certificate at St Andrews in 1970. She has tutored in LA, Seattle and at TAC Summer School and has taught extensively throughout the US and Canada and as a staff teacher at TAC. She has adjudicated and critiqued dance teams in the UK and in California.  She was one of the Society’s first two North American examiners.

Elinor was the driving force behind the Seattle Branch’s Annual Teachers Workshops. Elinor also initiated the Seattle Branch’s monthly Challenge Classes which are attended by advanced dancers, and teachers.

Elinor played a major role in the formation of the very successful Back to Basics workshop series initiated by the Seattle Branch.

Other Achievements:

In 1993 Elinor was awarded the very prestigious Washington State Golden Apple Award for her services to education and the disabled. She was one of ten teachers selected from a field of 45,000 teacher’s state wide.