The Caledonian Scottish Dancers, located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was formed in 1966 under the direction of Meribeth Zielke (Waldrop), with the purpose of high quality presentation and preservation of Scottish music and dance. Meribeth’s brother, Reuel Zielke, eventually moved into the role of group director. The group is currently under the direction of Heather St. Ledger.
The Caledonian Scottish Dancers perform Highland and National dances as well as some lesser known dances. Besides performing the dances in the traditional fashion, they also incorporate arrangements of the dances as well as new choreography.
The group has appeared at numerous festivals, conventions, and cultural events throughout the Midwest United States. They have also completed four successful tours of Scotland, including performances during the Edinburgh Festival, the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, and the Robert Burns Cottage and Heritage Center near Ayr. Other international destinations where the group has represented the Wisconsin folk dance community include Chiba, Japan and Montreal, Canada.
The group primarily performs under the accompaniment of the Billy Mitchell Scottish Pipes and Drums. Gary Bottoni, the pipe major, will also occasionally accompany the group as a soloist. The group has been privileged to perform with other renowned musicians, including Kim Robertson, Navan, and Carlos Núñez.