Suttons Bay figure skater captures national 'Showcase' title.

JANE SCOTT was the “Intermediate Light Champion”
at the U.S. Figure Skating National Showcase in
Fort Collins, Colo., earlier this month.

Jane Scott parlayed her love of figure skating and art into a title at the U.S. Figure Skating National Showcase earlier this month at Fort Collins, Colo.

Scott, the 17-year-old daughter of Alice Montie and Ken Scott of Suttons Bay, was the “Intermediate Light Champion” at the competition, skating to My Friend the Dictionary from the musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. She also received a third-place trophy in the Parade of Champions.

“It’s more about expression of the music and how to tell a story,” said Scott, who’ll be a senior next month at the Interlochen Center for the Arts. “A lot of creative energy comes from it, so it’s positive.”

Scott began skating at age 7 through a friend. She eventually took things seriously — practicing three hours a day, plus doing Pilates and yoga four to five days a week. She said that led to her “burning out” by the time she was in 7th grade.

But after a few years off, she returned to the ice to skate with Northern Lights, a synchronized skating team.

“I’d practice with the team from 5:30 to 6:30 in the morning three days a week at Howe Arena (in Traverse City) and the Kaliseum (in Kalkaska),” Scott said. “The other two days of the week, I’d work on my freestyle.”

Scott credits her parents with getting her where she needed to be in the wee hours of the morning.

“They’ve been awesome,” she said, adding that things have gotten a little easier since she’s been able to drive.

Scott, a member of the Twin Bay Skating Club, and friend Brittany Noble participated in the Cherry Capital Classic, the group’s annual ice show in June. Both girls are coached by Heidi Johnson Masse of Suttons Bay.

Scott was invited to participate in her first national showcase two years ago in Valencia, Calif., where she earned a second-place in the “teen light” division for My Sister and I, a piece from the musical Chicago. Last year, she made a return trip to the national showcase, this time held in Chicago. The musical that bears the name as the host town was also the source of the musical selection to which she skated. The number: Mr. Cellophane.

This year, Scott skated to Mr. Friend, the Dictionary from The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. It was her title performance as an individual. In addition to learning the choreography for the performance, she also designed and sewed her costume.

“It was a ‘baby doll’ dress which I altered and embellished. I also made matching boot covers,” said Scott, whose “theater tech” program at Interlochen includes all aspects of design. That includes set and costume design.

Scott also skated with members of the Northern Lights ensemble in the lead role of “Tracy” in the musical Hairspray. The rigorous 6-minute program took place about an hour before she skated in the Parade of Champions. The 9-member ensemble, based in Traverse City, brought home a first-place title, just as they did in 2006 with a number from Grease.

Scott’s biggest issue that day, according to her mother, Alice, was her hair.

“She had four hairdos in one day,” Montie said of her daughter’s challenge, which was met with assistance from Kate Savage, owner of Signature Salon in Traverse City.

Scott plans to continue working in performance arts after graduation, perhaps not on center stage (or ice, in her case), but behind the scenes.

“After graduating (from Interlochen), I’d like to move to Detroit and attend CCS (College of Creative Studies) and then transfer to MICA (Maryland Institute of the Arts).”