Ballet West is a ballet school in Taynuilt in the West of Scotland (see Taynuilt - where better to create ballet 31 Aug 2013). It offers a wide range of courses for professionals and the general public. Some of its students have done very well. Natasha Watson, for example, won a bronze at the Genée in 2913 (see Yet More Good News from Ballet West - Natasha Watson's Medal in the Genée 30 Sep 2013) and she is the only British finalist at Prix de Lausanne (see Natasha Watson in Lausanne 15 Nov 2014). Sarah Mortimer, Joseph Graves and Charlotte Eades who trained in Taynuilt are doing very well at Ballet Theatre UK. Andrew Cook who danced in Taynuilt last year is now with the Vienna Festival Ballet. I like Mr Cook because he comes from Yorkshire.
To give its students performance experience, the school has established a company which tours Scotland every Winter. I reviewed its performance of The Nutcracker at Pitlochry in my very first post of the 25 Feb 2013. I also reviewed its performance of Swan Lake at Pitlochry on 1 March 2014. This year I shall catch them in Stirling on 31 Jan 2015. They are completing their tour in style at the Clyde Auditorium on Valentine's Day (see Scottish Ballet and Ballet West 3 Oct 2015).
I am quite a fan of Ballet West but there are two things I would really like them to do. The first is to bring their company to London and perhaps other parts of the UK so that the rest of the country can see how good they are. The other is to stage a performance of La Sylphide. This is a highland story and they are a highland company. It shouldn't be left to Danes and Australians.
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