Jan Sutherland-Archer

Jan started dancing when she was 3 and it was soon clear that she was destined for a bright future in the world of dance.

A keen competitor and popular winner at many stage festivals and highland competitions she soon progressed through the ranks to become Scottish Tap Champion and won numerous championships in Highland Dance.

At 15 Jan decided that her future lay on the professional stage. Having successfully auditioned for her first show before her 16th birthday, and gained her Equity card, she soon travelled the world as a professional performer.

Based in London for 6 years Jan then had the opportunity to live and teach in Los Angeles where she was soon winning all the top teachers' awards at competitions which her students entered.

In 1987 she moved to Kansas City where she owned and managed her own dance studio. After the birth of her first son, Jamie she decided to return home to Scotland and joined forces with her mother, Betty to enhance and expand the Sutherland School of Dance.

In 1995 Jan opened The Studio, the recent past home of the Sutherland School of Dance at 88 College Street, Dumbarton. Success soon followed with students gaining top examination results and festival distinctions. Late in 2005 Jan took over ownership and management of kidzworld in Alexandria and the Sutherland School of Dance has now moved there from Dumbarton.

Using experience gained during her travels, and her knowledge of both Broadway and West End shows Jan set about changing the face of dance in Dumbarton District. She was soon winning top teacher and top school awards at every festival in Scotland.

When Jan was a young teenager she was involved with the Junior Pantheon Club in Glasgow, playing leading roles in their productions. Having studied for 4 years at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama she has now gone full circle and in 2005 Jan choreographed for The Pantheon Club's production of 42nd Street at the Kings Theatre in Glasgow.

Now teaching at Sutherland School of Dance:

• Betty Sutherland is Founder of the Sutherland School of Dance and Head of the Highland Department

Betty is a Fellow, Examiner and Life Member of the Scottish Dance Teachers' Alliance. She is qualified to teach Tap, Ballet, Modern and Highland.

Mrs Sutherland has taught in Dumbarton since 1969. Now semi-retired she concentrates solely on her first love - Highland Dance.

She Qualified as an Adjudicator with the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing in 1975 and now travels the World in this capacity.

At home her students continue to gain top awards in examinations and competitions as they have for many years. In 2002, Betty Sutherland's pupil Kimberlee Couper brought great honour to the school by winning the Junior World Championship at the Cowal Gathering.

As an examiner with the Scottish Dance Teachers’ Alliance she visits Dance Studios in Scotland, England, Canada, U.S.A. and South Africa, grading students on behalf of the "Alliance".  

In 2000 Mrs. Sutherland was elected President of the SDTA Due to presidential duties the position meant a significant increase in the amount of exhausting overseas travel. The mantle has now been passed on and as Immediate Past President she has more time to spend with her family both at home and in Australia.

• Ashley Newport teaches Cheer, Junior Tap and Modern

Ashley's qualifications include SDTA Associate Qualifications in Disco Dancing and Cheer Dance together with BTDA Advanced Foundation Ballet which she passed with Distinction.

She has been a member of Scottish Ballet's Junior Associate scheme, appearing in public performances of The Nutcracker at Glasgow's Theatre Royal and Edinburgh's Playhouse.

Ashley has been a consistent performer in the Sutherland School of Dance's many annual shows and drama productions having played the Artful Dodger in Oliver and Frenchy in Grease. She has appeared the BBC production Stacey Stone and STV's I Don't Believe It.

Ashley's favourite dance discipline is Tap which she has performed throughout Scotland and England.