Testimonials


Scotland Sings Theatre Production
Thank you Anne,
I couldn't have been more thrilled with the girls! They stepped it up in all aspects. It’s a delight to see the growth with all artists from first day of rehearsal and (not knowing what to expect) to the final show. And your dancers were no exception. Growth in both artistic presentation and professional! BRAVO! When we produce this type of show again I will most definitely call you and we can collaborate once again. You have a lot to be proud of! Congratulations.
Most sincerely,
David Hogan
Co-Artistic Director
Victoria Playhouse Petrolia


"I so enjoyed the "Twelve Days of Celtic Christmas Show" on Sunday........ Shayne's Aunt came and loved it, I am sure it brought back memories for her as well as watching her niece perform with the same teacher she had as well......"


"I have nothing but the best memories of my dancing in Ontario and it is something I hope my girls and my dancers are getting with me now. You were the best teacher and I was lucky to have you as my teacher and I try to remember some things that you always did for us when teaching and Use it myself. I try to do all the fun things as well and that is all from your dance school so Thank you for all of my great memories and helping me strive to be the teacher you were to me."


"Greetings Anne from Texas!!! Congratulations of 45 wonderful years of teaching!!! A Highly Commended with Honours to you and all the Sutherland dancers over the past 45 years..... so many great dancers and parents along the way. Wishing you many more wonderful years in the future. Anne, I am privileged to call you a fellow colleague and friend!"


Forty-five years teaching celebration "Many heartfelt kudos to you!!!"


"Congratulations Anne, in reaching 45 years of teaching highland dancing - quite an accomplishment! I'm sure there are many parents and dancers like my daughters and me who have very happy memories of our time at the Sutherland School of Highland Dancing. When we moved to Calgary, we certainly missed all the friends we made and all the trips we went on - the competition was just an excuse to have a nice holiday with people who were a lot of fun. I wish I could be at the ceilidh as it would be nice to spend time with some of the people who were such a gig part of our lives in London. Please let them know that we think about you and them often. We were fortunate to have such a wonderful teacher and be part of a really good dancing studio. Wishing you many more years of highland dancing involvement."


"Anne Congratulations, you have been a major influencer in both my children's lives and I cannot thank you enough for all the wonderful experiences they had as a result of being a Sutherland Dancer."


"Congratulations on all your achievements WOW!!!"


"Congratulations on 45 years! You have greatly impacted the Highland Dancing community. You are a wonderful Teacher, Judge, and Examiner."


"Hi Anne, The girls did a wonderful performance. They are beautiful dancers and we all enjoyed the commentary of each dance. You must be very proud of them. It was a wonderful surprise for our guests and they certainly made the evening one we will never forget. Thank the girls again for the exceptional job they did, and thank you for organizing.
Best regards,
Rita Turpie"


"Hello at Sutherland Studio!
I was at a Scottish Country Dance workshop put on by the RSCDS Vancouver Branch over the weekend. One of the instructors was Kay Sutherland. I asked her if she was related to Anne Sutherland from London, Ontario. She said no, but she knew that the Sutherland Studio was going strong. So I looked you up on the Internet.

My name is Kathryn (Kathy) Secord and I was a highland dance student in 1969 in Dorchester, Ontario. Anne was doing some classes there at the community centre. I was 12 years old and my sister, Sandy, who also did the highland dancing was 6. I think we were only able to go for either 1 or 2 seasons, but the training has stayed with us. I moved to the Yukon in 1981 in my early twenties. There was a dance teacher who was doing both Highland and Scottish country dancing. I had the opportunity to go in a highland games for the first time in the open category. I had another round of highland classes in my 30s when my daughter was taking highland dancing. The teacher held a class for the parents since several of us were former dancers. We did more of the National Dances.

For the past 25 years, I have participated in SCD here in the Yukon whenever we had a teacher. We just got our SCD group going again last year with a group of new adult beginners and then our teacher retired and moved to Victoria. My sister and I and a couple of other more experienced dancers have taken on the teaching role to keep SCD alive and keep connected with our other local Scottish groups — pipe band, highland groups, and celtic bands.

I wanted to pass along this story to let you know that the “love of dance” was established from Anne’s outreach highland classes in Dorchester, Ontario. This passion has been passed along to our children and is alive and well in the Yukon.

Thank you Anne Sutherland!"
Kathy and Sandy Secord
Formerly from Harrietsville, Ontario
Now we are in Whitehorse, Yukon
February 21, 2018

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”.