Scottish Ballet


Scottish Ballet is the national ballet company of Scotland and one of the five leading ballet companies of the United Kingdom, alongside the Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and Northern Ballet. Founded in 1969, the company is based in Glasgow, the resident ballet company at the Glasgow Theatre Royal and from 2009 in their purpose-built ballet centre in Tramway Arts Centre, Glasgow.
WWW Official Site

History

Scottish Ballet is Scotland's national dance company. Its primary aim is to provide programmes of world-class dance performance and educational activity at all scales. Scottish Ballet presents a wide range of dance to audiences across Scotland, the UK and abroad – and employs 36 professional dancers, 41 staff and a part-time freelance orchestra of up to 70 musicians.
Founded by Peter Darrell and Elizabeth West as the Western Theatre Ballet in Bristol in 1957, the company moved to Glasgow in 1969 and was renamed Scottish Theatre Ballet, changing to Scottish Ballet in 1974. A year later its home theatre became the Theatre Royal, Glasgow when Scottish Opera bought it and transformed it as the first national opera house in Scotland. The Company performs across Scotland, the UK and abroad, with strong classical technique at the root of all of its work. Its broad repertory includes new versions of the classics, seminal pieces from the 20th century modern ballet canon, signature pieces by living choreographers and new commissions. As a national company, Scottish Ballet performs at theatres in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness and in smaller venues throughout Scotland. The company's long history of touring internationally includes visits to China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Portugal, Ireland and the rest of the UK. Scottish Ballet's many recent awards include the 2004 TMA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance in recognition of its modernisation programme and dynamic performances. Scottish Ballet's current artistic director Christopher Hampson joined the company in 2012.
[file:Scottish Ballet's 50th anniversary year (47972126966) (cropped).jpg|thumb|Scottish Ballet's 50th anniversary year]
The company provides dance classes and a variety of education initiatives, including work with children and adults of all ages and abilities, and the Associate Programme which encourages aspiring young dancers to train for a career in the industry. Scottish Ballet also has close links with Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, partnering the BA Modern Ballet and M.Mus. degree courses.
Scottish Ballet was the first dance company in Europe to offer live audio description for the visually impaired, and maintains a programme of regular audio described performances throughout Scotland.
Scottish Ballet won the Stef Stefanou Award for Outstanding Company in the 2023 National Dance Awards.

Repertoire

Scottish Ballet presents a broad repertoire, ranging from new versions of the classics, 20th century modern ballet repertoire, work by living choreographers and new commissions.
Current repertoire:Dangerous Liaisons by Richard AlstonApollo by George BalanchineEpisodes by George BalanchineThe Four Temperaments by George BalanchineRubies by George BalanchineFive Rückert Songs by Peter DarrelWhite Man Sleeps by Siobhan DaviesSuite From Artifact by William ForsytheTwilight by Hans van ManenTwo Pieces for HET by Hans van ManenAcrid Avid Jam by Ashley PageCheating, Lying, Stealing by Ashley PageCinderella by Ashley PageNightswimming into day by Ashley PageThe Nutcracker by Ashley PageThe Pump Room by Ashley PageRefurbished Behaviour by Ashley PageSoft Underbelly by Ashley PageWalking in the Heat by Ashley PageThe Snow Queen by Ashley Page32 Cryptograms by Ashley PageMiddleSexGorge by Stephen PetronioAgon by George BalanchineAfternoon of a Faun by Jerome RobbinsIn Light and Shadow by Krzysztof Pastor
  • “Highland Fling” by Sir Matthew Bourne
  • “The Crucible” by Helen Pickett
  • “A Streetcar Named Desire” by Annabelle Lopez OchoaRoom of Cooks by Ashley PageThe Nutcracker – Diverts by Ashley PageFaçade by Frederick AshtonSirocco by Diana LoosmoreOthello by Peter DarrellThe Sleeping Beauty by Ashley PageRide The Beast by Stephen PetronioFearful Symmetries by Ashley PageFor M.G. – The Movie by Trisha BrownChasing Ghosts by Diana LoosmoreRomeo and Juliet by Krzysztof PastorTraume by Gregory DeanLull by Diana LoosmorePennies from Heaven by Ashley PageCarmen by Richard AlstonWorkwithinwork by William ForsythePetrushka by Ian SpinkScènes de Ballet by Frederick AshtonStill Life by Val CaniparoliFrom Where by Paul LiburdAlice by Ashley PageSong of the Earth by Kenneth MacMillanNew Work by Jorma Elo

Headquarters

In June 2009 Scottish Ballet moved to new, purpose-built premises in Glasgow's Southside, next to the Tramway Theatre, which had been designed by Malcolm Fraser Architects.

Dancers

Principals

  • Jessica Fyfe
  • Marge Hendrick
  • Roseanna Leney
  • Evan Loudon
  • Bruno Micchiardi

Soloists

  • Javier Andreu
  • Thomas Edwards
  • Grace Horler
  • Yuri Marques
  • Rimbaud Patron
  • Melissa Polson
  • Gina Scott
  • Claire Souet

First Artists

  • Rishan Benjamin
  • Alice Kawalek
  • Harvey Littlefield
  • Amy McEntee
  • Madeline Squire
  • Kayla-Maree Tarantolo
  • Eado Turgeman
  • Anna Williams

Artists

  • Andrea Azzari
  • Antonia Cramb
  • Hannah Cubitt
  • Harvey Evans
  • Urtzi Ganzedo
  • James Garrington
  • James Hobley
  • Mackenzie Jacob
  • Ishan Mahabir-Stokes
  • Danila Marzilli
  • Jamie Reid
  • Mayu Takata
  • Urara Takata
  • Benjamin Thomas
  • Claire Tjoe-Fat
  • Elizabeth Williams
  • Seira Winning
  • Fulvio Zamagna

Notable former dancers