About Tierney

About Tierney Elizabeth

Tierney began her dance career at the age of four, joining ballet classes at the local community center. She continued her ballet education at the San Jose Cleveland Ballet School, then to South Bay Dance Center, where she obtained principal roles in annual performances of The Nutcracker.

At the age of seven, Tierney attended her first highland games with her family. It was at the highland games that she fell in love with highland dance and swore to her family that she would not only highland dance, but she would be the best. She then began her training with Norine Harmon at the San Jose School of Highland Dance. Tierney had the privilege of performing for such audiences as Prince Michael of Kent, Lord Locharron, and Prince Andrew. She competed throughout the Western Region and in major championships.

In the fall of 2006, Tierney began training with Fred DeMarse to obtain her highland dance teaching credentials. Later that year, Tierney became an Associate of the United Kingdom Alliance. She then became a full Member of the British Association of Teachers of Dance in January of 2007. She now teaches with Fred, her teacher and colleague, at the San Jose School of Highland Dance in Campbell, CA. They now have the largest highland dance school in California.

Since Tierney grew up in highland dancing, as well as other forms of dance, Tierney's family felt the financial strain that many dancers feel due to high costume pricing. In order to finance her dance education, her mother, Kathie de la Lama, began her own eBay sewing business. With her great sewing talents, she costumed many re-enactors, renaissance themed weddings, and even the Show Choir Tierney had joined at her middle school.

Tierney had grown up watching her mom design and sew costumes and had always wanted to learn the craft. Finally, after years of procrastination from both parties, her mom sat her down with a simple highland blouse pattern and taught her. Sewing came so easily to Tierney that she decided to take on harder highland costumes. Her second project was an Aboyne vest, then a hornpipe costume. She knew her hobby became her passion when she started making costumes for her highland dance students.

Mo Cridhe Couture | San Jose School of Highland Dance