TRISHA MACCONNELL BACON
Trisha has been certified to teach highland dancing since 2002. She has taught in studios in Michigan and Oregon and most recently operated the Bacon School of Scottish Dance in California. Trisha is a Fellow of the Scottish Dance Teachers’ Alliance (SDTA), a member of ScotDance USA, and sits on the worldwide judges’ panel of the RSOBHD.
She has been involved in ScotDance USA as a member of the Choreography Committee, co-chair of the Alumni Connections Committee, and as West Regional Delegate. Trisha currently serves on ScotDance USA’s Professional Development Committee.
Trisha holds a Doctorate of Physical Therapy Degree from Duke University and is board-certified in Orthopaedics by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. She currently resides in Elizabeth City, NC, with her husband, Drew, a bagpiper and US Coast Guard helicopter pilot, and their young two children.
TOWNS KILLOUGH
Born and raised in Atlanta, GA, Towns has been an active dancer, teacher, and choreographerfor over 35 years. She began dancing at 6 years old with Judy Hackett. After Judy’s move from Georgia to Tennessee, Towns traveled to Charlotte, North Carolina to study with Anne Burgin Andrews.
Towns is a Fellow of the BATD in the Highland and a Member in National. She has served on the ScotDance USA Board of Directors as the Southeast Delegate 12 years and stands on many committees. She has taught at dance camps and workshops in Florida, Georgia, New York and North Carolina and loves working with dancers on technique and timing, as well as choreographing non-traditional pieces. She has trained 10 dancers to pass their RSOBHD teachers’ exam and loves to see her more experienced dancers spread their wings!
Her dancers reside all over the Southeast, therefor she teaches via zoom and in her studio. Her students have represented the Southeast and East regions at every USIR since 2007, and many have placed top six over the years and three in top three. Her dancers have participated in the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in 2018, 2019 (on the teams for 2020 and 2021 years that were canceled), 2022 and 2023, as well as the Virginia International Tattoo in 2022 and 2024. Her dancers were part of the Pipes on Parade Team that participated in the Parade of Roses in Pasadena in 2023, including her daughter that was Team Captain.
Towns lives in Atlanta, GA with her husband Rocco Paolucci and their dog Macallan. She loves attending conferences, workshops, Tattoos, and dance competitions across the country. Towns is thrilled to return to SSA this and looks forward to sharing her passion and love of Highland Dance!