Young Ballet Stars To Perform in Oban and Stirling

By Contributor -

Ballet West's principal dancers, brother and sister and Jonathan Barton and Sara-Maria Barton. Photo by Ryan Davies

In May, audiences in Oban and, for the first time, Stirling will enjoy the opportunity of seeing the dance stars of the future demonstrating their artistic talents in showcase performances by Ballet West’s BA and HND students.

Ballet West is based in Taynuilt, West Highlands, and was established in 1991 by Gillian Barton, a Royal Academy of Dance-trained dancer, choreographer and teacher.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for audiences in both Oban and Stirling to see our very talented young performers as they are about to move on to the professional stage,” said Gillian. “For the students, Ballet West’s showcases provide invaluable experience of live performance in a theatre setting.”

The final assessment before moving on to the professional stage

The showcase is the culmination of the year’s work for the school’s HND and BA(Hons) students, and is the final assessment for the degree students before graduation and moving on to the professional stage. A highlight of the programme will be Concerto, a work especially created for Ballet West’s students by Belgian choreographer, Daniel Job and based on Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto no.2.

The students will be dancing alongside senior principals, Sara-Maria Barton and Jonathan Barton, while Sara-Maria will be performing a piece with Martin Fenton, head of contemporary dance at Ballet West and famous for his appearances in the TV series, Pineapple Dance Studios and in the title role in The Snowman in London’s West End.

Ballet West will be at Corran Halls, Oban on the evenings of May 22/23 and at macrobert, Stirling on the evening of May 29. For more information, visit www.balletwest.co.uk.

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