Ballet West will bring performance to Oban

Taynuilt-based Ballet West will present

Giselle ou les Wilis on tour to eight venues across Scotland, opening at MacRobert Arts Centre in Stirling on January 26 and including Oban on its itinerary.

The new production by the company’s choreographer and artistic adviser, Daniel F Job, features two outstanding young dancers, Natasha Watson and Uyu Hiromoto, sharing the lead role of Giselle.

Natasha, from Falkirk, a graduate of Ballet West, is now a lecturer and principal dancer with the company. She has danced with Scottish Ballet and English National Ballet.

Uyu, who is from Japan, is a third-year student. Both Natasha and Uyu have achieved the Royal Academy of Dance’s Solo Seal. They will be partnered by Ballet West’s senior principal dancer, Jonathan Barton, performing the role of Count Albrecht.

Nearly 100 of Ballet West’s students, together with guest artists, and students from Ballet West’s Glasgow and Edinburgh associates, will be taking part in the tour to venues in Paisley, Greenock, Livingston, Oban, Glasgow, Inverness, finishing in Edinburgh on February 17.

Giselle is described as a ballet-pantomime in two acts. It was first performed in Paris in 1841.

Daniel F Job’s choreography for Ballet West’s talented young company is based on the revivals of Marius Petipa.

Gillian Barton, Ballet West’s principal says: ‘For students on HND and degree courses, our popular annual tours provide invaluable experience in performing for audiences in many different venues across Scotland.

‘It is an essential element of their training as dance artists of the future. Our classical ballet tours provide a wonderful opportunity for students to dance alongside experienced professional dancers. The high artistic standards achieved in our productions never fail to attract appreciative audiences of all ages.’

The ballet comes to the Corran Halls in Oban on Thursday February 8 at 7.30pm.