Ballet West

BALLET WEST is a national centre for young dancer development in Taynuilt, and are committed to performing professional quality work to as wide a range of people as possible.

Mission Statement
 

Ballet West is a youth ballet company committed to performing professional quality work to as wide a range of people as possible. The company began with a modest production of ‘The Nutcracker’ in 1992, and has grown steadily year on year ever since.

The recent productions of ‘Swan Lake’ and ‘Romeo and Juliet’ followed our successful 10th Anniversary production of ‘The Nutcracker’ (currently in revival), which was praised by Kenneth Spiers, who wrote in the ‘Mail on Sunday’: “I honestly have not seen such an enjoyable Nutcracker in years”.

The company comprises full-time students of the Ballet West school, resident professionals and guest artists brought in for specific projects. The company has a prominent role in the training of young dancers as an integral part of the BA in Classical Ballet and Dance Studies, which will be taught (subject to validation) from September 2007.

Ballet West was originally established as a provider of full-time, post-16 dance training in 1995 and since then has developed an international reputation for offering the very best in classical ballet training. The transition to formal Higher Education is an important milestone in the development of Ballet West.
 
Current Production or Work-in-Progress

The Nutcracker – opened in Oban in November, currently touring to mid-February 2007. 

Fantasy Theatre

A fully financed run at a London Theatre to showcase the talent from this school in the Highlands.

Golden Moment

Possibly the 2005-6 production of ‘Romeo and Juliet’, which was an artistic triumph! Or the recent performance of ‘The Nutcracker’ at Perth Concert Hall, as it was the first performance in front of an audience in excess of 1000.

And Not So Golden Moment

The moments when the music mysteriously cut out (not our fault!) in Perth Concert Hall in front of in excess of 1000 people, or performing ‘Cinderella’ with a cast of 40 to 35 people in the Queens Hall, Dunoon.

Highland Theatre – Is There Such A Thing, and If So, What Is It?

There is a theatre which is born out of a Highland culture, whether that is contemporary or historic. There is also work that originates elsewhere but is viewed through the lens of Highland experience, and there is also work produced in the Highlands that has no local branding or content, and essentially could have been produced anywhere. All are valid elements of “Highland Theatre”. The important thing is that the Highlands continues to produce and export high quality work.

© Ballet West, 2007