Scotland Sings
Just wanted to let everyone know how much we appreciate your support of our Senior Premier Dancers, Emma St. Arnaud, Kayla Sutherland, Isabella Biliski and also former student McKenna Lindsay (Michigan)
who are performing at the Victoria Playhouse in Petrolia. It is a great show of the music and legends of Scotland and a very family friendly show that all ages can enjoy.
It is a wonderful opportunity for our Senior Premier Dancers to work in professional theatre with actors and singers . Over the past years we have had dancers perform in professional
productions of Brigadoon at Talbot Theatre, The Needfire in Toronto, Orchestra London, Celtic Christmas Roy Thomson Hall, and Immrama - Hamilton. I am a very proud teacher to have our dancers performing in “Scotland Sings”.
It is a busy schedule of 17 shows plus rehearsals. The parents and grandparents of these dancers are to be commended for their commitment to making this work -
there is a lot of extra time especially with extra homework with missed school, driving distances and all are working as part of a team for the benefit of the girls and our studio.
The production continues until May 20.
Anne Sutherland
May 2016
Isabella Biliski
Isabella lives in London, ON and attends Lester B. Pearson School for the Performing Arts. Isabella began highland dancing at age 3 at Sutherland Studio of Dance, instructed by Anne Sutherland. Isabella has most recently has won runner up titles in the Carolina Open Championship in North Carolina and the Celtic Arts Open Championship in Bellingham, WA, as well as placing in the Celtic Arts Solo Choreography competition. Isabella was nominated to BATD North American Sadie Simpson Junior Highland Scholarships in San Diego, California and placed 6th Overall. Isabella also enjoys painting and drawing as well as practising the violin.
Sutherland Studio Guest Performer: McKenna Lindsay
McKenna Lindsay, age 14, is an accomplished Scottish Highland Dancer from Chesterfield, Michigan USA. Her love of Scottish Highland dancing began at the early age of 3. McKenna has been awarded many accolades during her 10 years of competitive highland dance and was recently accepted into the John Armstrong Performing Arts Program. She is honoured to be given the opportunity to bring her love of dance and choreography to "Scotland Sings". McKenna is currently the 1st runner-up in her age group in the United States. She is under the instruction of Kira Cogswell VanSteenkiste at the Michigan Highland Dance Academy located in Ray, Michigan USA.
Emma St. Arnaud
Emma lives in Strathroy, Ontario. She has studied highland dance and ballet since the age of 4. She is a student of Anne Sutherland and a performing member of The Celtic Dance Company of Western Ontario. Previously, Emma studied at The Owen Sound Academy of Performing Arts under Ann Milne, where she also performed in the disciplines of jazz, tap,modern, musical theatre and show choir. As a premier level competitive highland dancer, Emma has travelled throughout Ontario, U.S.A and Scotland. While proud of her competitive achievements Emma is more grateful for the opportunities afforded to her through dance such as being a part of this amazing collaboration of talent in “Scotland Sings”.
Kayla Sutherland
Kayla is a 14 year old student in the H.B. Beal Performing Arts Dance Program, London ON. She is a Champion Highland Dancer who as an Ontario Representative placed 2nd in her age division in the 2015 Canadian Championships and also achieved 3rd overall in the 14 yrs World Juvenile Qualifiers, Dunoon Scotland. Kayla has performed for Queen Elizabeth II at Braemar Gathering and Lord & Lady Strathnaver at Dunrobin Castle in Scotland. Kayla dances highland and ballet with Sutherland Studio of Dance London, ON and participates in classes taught by internationally respected Highland Teacher/Judge Anne Sutherland whom Kayla also gets to call “Grandma”. Kayla is very excited and honoured to be part of “Scotland Sings”.