Ballet appeals for support to help dancers train at home
SCOTLAND’S national ballet has launched a public appeal for donations to help dancers train while Glasgow studios are shut. Scottish Ballet has not been able to use its base at the Tramway in the city’s South Side due to the restrictions but classes have been continuing on Zoom.
With no special barre – the handrail used for support during exercises – in their homes, the 40 dancers have had to make do with holding on to pieces of furniture for balance.
The company has launched a fundraising Back To The Barre appeal to raise money to buy a portable barre for each dancer and ensure they can train safely at home with the correct equipment, and to purchase items such as mini-trampolines and free weights for them.
Scottish Ballet artistic director Christopher Hampson said it is important for the dancers to maintain their strength during lockdown.
He said: “While it’s good for athletes and artists to take a little break from their craft, the strength starts to go after a couple of weeks so it’s really important that we’re able to get them access to their daily training.”
“Maintaining their strength and condition is one of the specific challenges – we’re asking people to find spaces in their flats and wherever they’re living.
“We’re trying to get them barres because people are having to hold on to mantelpieces or the backs of chairs, or nothing at all.
“Anyone training in any disci
AN initiative by volunteers that has allowed friends and families to safely hand over personal items to loved ones in hospital has proven a major hit with patients across the region.
Since launching in Glasgow Royal Infirmary four weeks ago, “Give and pline will need certain standards of equipment to be able to practise and when you are having to make do with what you have at home and improvise that opens up the risk of injury or re-injury.
“The Back To The Barre appeal will mean the dancers can train safely in their own homes with equipment we are able to buy and we know is safe.” Each dancer has been given a piece of dance floor, cut up after being used on tour in Korea with a previous production, to ensure they have the right grip for their feet.
The dancers are also offered classes such as yoga and pilates but are not training at full capacity as they cannot practise things like lifting a partner or certain jumps at home.
Go” has enabled thousands of personal bags to be delivered to patients unable to receive visitors.
Staffed by NHS volunteers, relatives and friends are able to pass over sealed bags at designated drop-off points.
Margaret Connolly,
Mr Hampson said the dancers have been “amazing” and shown “tremendous resilience” in adapting to the changes
Martin Lanfear, head of performance medicine at Scottish Ballet, added: “A barre at the right height is critically important for balletic posture.”
As lockdown restrictions start to ease, it is hoped some dancers will be able to get back into the studio within the next few weeks, alternating with some working at home to ensure social distancing.
It is not known when theatres will reopen for live performances but Mr Hampson said the dancers will continue to create new work which could be shared on digital platforms.
More information about appeal can be found online scottishballet.co.uk.
assistant chief nurse at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, helped roll out the initiative.
She said: “Give and Go plays a crucial role in helping us continue to deliver person-centred, compassionate care to patients in the midst of the pandemic. the at
“The feedback has been wonderful, and it’s brought a smile to thousands of patients across acute sites.
“The current situation means it can be difficult for patients who perhaps feel isolated or lonely because they can’t receive visits from their families.”