Elizabeth Lee & Duard Barnes Scholarship

The Blue Ridge Scottish Dance School has been born from the tradition of Thistle School.

We are all ever so grateful to Betty Lee and Duard

for their many years of leadership and devotion to the art of Scottish Country Dance

and are establishing this scholarship in honor of their efforts.

Duard Barnes

March 17, 1924 - January 14, 2023

The Scottish Country Dancing community mourns the loss of Duard Barnes. Duard was a quiet force helping to insure the success of many SCD events since he and Betty Lee began dancing in 1964. They co-founded the annual week long Thistle School, which flourished for 39 years until 2019.

Duard bravely served in the US Army during World War II. He and Betty Lee were married in 1946, and he is survived by his son Chris Barnes and daughter Victoria Bishton. He had a long, successful career at the Department of the Interior from 1950-1994.

Former “Thistlers” fondly remember dancing The Towpath Strider written by David Gilliam for Duard commemorating his years of reading books while walking the towpath to work.

To honor them, Blue Ridge Scottish Dance School, Inc. established the Elizabeth Lee and Duard Barnes Scholarship fund in 2020.

Applying for the
Betty Lee & Duard Barnes Scholarship

The Elizabeth Lee and Duard Barnes Scholarship Fund is available to further the interest of Scottish Country Dancing in the Southeast and help perpetuate the aims of the Blue Ridge Scottish Dance School, Inc..

Guidelines of the Scholarship

Teachers wishing to nominate a dancer:

Teacher Recommendation (PDF)

Teacher Recommendation (Word)

Dancers wishing to apply themselves:

Application (PDF)

Application (Word)