Jan Sutherland Archer

Choreographer of 42nd Street

Jan’s professional career began at the age of 15 when she successfully auditioned for the Ayr’s Gaiety Theatre, alongside Charlie Simm. Jan then joined a cabaret group, consisting of five girl dancers and a male singer, touring Malta and Italy for eighteen months. On her return, she based herself in London for the three years, appearing in ‘Summer Seasons’ and pantomimes in Scarborough, Blackpool, Morecombe and Bournemouth. During this period, she also modelled couture fashion for Zandra Rhodes.

Jan’s began her career in choreography when she moved to Los Angeles to teach dance in Londance Studio, Costa Mesa, California. Performing with her partner Martyn Blaney, Jan appeared in Let’s Dance for cable television and flew to Las Vegas to appear in revues at the M.G.M. Grand and Riviera hotels. A memorable experience from this time was flying by private jet to Nevada, on numerous occasions, to teach millionaire casino owner Don Loughlin and his wife Irish dancing for St Patrick’s Day celebrations.

The next step in Jan’s career was a move to Kansas City, where she owned and managed a dance studio in Overland Park, Missouri. Now dancing with a new partner, Jan choreographed and performed with her dance team at the Mid West premiere of Dirty Dancing in addition to appearing in many TV shows and exhibitions around the United States.

Since arriving back in Scotland, Jan has built up a reputation as a teacher of champions with pupils winning championships in all disciplines of dance and many progressing onto professional theatre work or teaching. She has also won ‘Top School’ and ‘Top Teacher’ awards at all festivals in Scotland and Northern England.