Ballet West’s Swan Lake will be a first for Malaysia

Dancers from Taynuilt’s Ballet West got a fabulous Far East welcome when they flew to Malaysian to promote what will be a first for the country.

Gillian Barton, who is principal of the vocational ballet school, was in Genting to launch the forthcoming production of Swan Lake.

News of Ballet West’s new international touring company won media attention when the tour dates – August 24 and September 2 – were announced last weekat a press conference.

Principal dancers Jonathan Barton and Natasha Watson choreographed a flash mob dance which involved more than 100 dancers from schools across Malalysia performing with them at the launch.

Big screens showed scenes from Swan Lake, while the two Taynuilt dancers rose high above the gathered crowd on a giant sky lift.

‘We will be the first professional ballet company to perform in Malaysia. The launch was spectacular. Jonathan, Natasha and I have been incredibly well received. We are in The Edge newspaper, Malaysia’s top paper,’ said Ms Barton.

Swan Lake was requested by Ballet West’s production partners after Malaysian market research showed it was the most popular ballet in Asia.

Back home in Taynuilt, there has also been some good news for 27-year-old student Rahul Pradeep from Bangalore.

Offers from two potential sponsors are looking promising but he would still need to find another £8,000, said Ms Barton.

Rahul hopes once he graduates he will get a full-time job as a teacher, choreographer or best of all as a dancer – possibly with Ballet West’s international touring company.