...and then there were two | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

Wairarapa's Highland dance community - once very strong - has fallen to just two active dancers.

The survivors, Amberly Sutherland and her niece Shaeane Sutherland, 12, travel the North Island entering dancing competitions.

Amberly's mother Val, who died last month, used to drive the pair to events as the dancers rested in the car.

Now Amberly, 20, will take over the role of driver.

"We'll be taking a lot more rests now," she said.

She began highland dancing 11 years ago, after seeing a demonstration and thinking, 'I'd like to do that.'

Amberly is sitting her final exam for a diploma in Highland and national dancing this year, which will make her a qualified judge.

She is the only qualified teacher for the discipline in Wairarapa and said the past-time was good for school work.

"It teaches you to use both sides of your brain really fast. It actually helps build intelligence."

The pair drive to Waikanae once a week to take lessons - a two-hour drive each way, with only two to three hours spent in the class.

As the classes are held at night, they often get back around 9pm.

Amberly takes bagpipe lessons in Waikanae from their dance tutor's husband on separate days.

Before finding their teacher in Kapiti, they had been going to Palmerston North or Wellington for classes.

Masterton has not hosted classes since Tarsha Grantham went overseas and no one took over the role.

"There used to be a lot more people in Wairarapa involved, but no one was committed enough, or the travel was too much, and now it's just us," Amberly said.

There will be no Highland dance competition at this year's Masterton A&P Show.

Wairarapa A and P show organiser Ray Beale said they has not held the Highland dance competition for some years.

Amberly thinks it would be "lovely" to see more people in Wairarapa become involved in Highland dance.

"Once you make a friend through Highland dancing it's a friend for life," she said.

"It's a lot cooler than people think it is."

She has been thinking about starting teaching lessons but is not sure where to find an appropriate venue to hold classes in Masterton.

Anyone who is interested in learning more about Highland dance can contact Amberly for more details on 3771011.