Ballet West, who launched Scotland’s first BA course in Classical Ballet and Dance Performance, has announced expansion plans to build new studios at its home in Taynuilt, in the Western Highlands.  With the degree course at full capacity, the new studios will allow the student roll to increase to over 100 students. The studios are to be built close to Ichrachan House, on the 350-acre estate and deer farm at Taynuilt,

The project has the wholehearted support of Ballet West’s Patron, Billy Connolly:

“As Patron of Ballet West it gives me enormous pleasure to support the campaign to raise funds to build a new studio complex on the Ichrachan estate, Taynuilt. Ever since it started Ballet West has proved to be an enormous success, firstly bringing the best of ballet teaching to the Highlands, and now reaching out worldwide, through Scotland’s first BA course in Classical Ballet and Dance Performance, and its classical ballet tours, both domestic and international, by students and professional dance artists.

“Ballet West has been so successful that it is now bursting at the seams and there is an urgent need for larger and better equipped studio space. I applaud the astonishing achievements of Gillian Barton, her staff and her students and look forward to the new studios, which will enable the school to continue to grow and to thrive.”

The BA course, which is offered by North Highland College, part of the University of the Highlands and Islands, began three years ago and has proved very popular and successful.  Students live in houses around the estate. The increased popularity of the school means that existing studios, alongside the 100-year-old house will soon no longer be able to meet the demand for classes and rehearsals.

The first phase of the development plan is to build a new studio on the site of an old barn on the estate.  The studio will be able to accommodate up to 30 students in classes and provide rehearsal facilities for the classical ballet performances which tour Scotland in the early spring and then go to China in early summer.  When the new studio is not being used by the school, it will be available for the local community in the vicinity of Taynuilt for cultural activities.

A fundraising campaign is underway to raise £750,000 for the first phase of the development.  In a second phase a further three studios are planned alongside, with a library, therapy room and gym, as well as office space.  The total cost of the development is estimated at around £3.5 million.

Source: Ballet West