THE PRINCIPALS
Marge Hendrick, from Paris, and Evan Loudon, from Sydney, joined Scottish Ballet within six months of each other in 2012 and 2013, and were put together as dance partners soon after.
They were each promoted to principal dancer shortly before lockdown struck in March 2020.
Loudon said: “We were put together for our heights, but then realised we danced really well together, and we’ve grown as partners and
people over the years, and know each other’s body so well now.”
He started in gymnastics at five, and his coach suggested he try dance because he was so good at floor work.
“I fell in love with ballet and everything escalated quickly. I entered the Mcdonald’s Ballet Scholarship at Sydney Opera House and won the boys’ scholarship, and that helped me get funding to go to ballet school. To dance on the Opera House stage was phenomenal, especially being from the city.”
Shortly after being made principal, Hendrick travelled to America on an exchange programme to perform with Ballet West.
“It was an amazing experience and boosted my confidence, and I felt legitimate being there.
I came back just before lockdown,” she said.
Loudon and Hendrick agree that lockdown, in the beginning, was beneficial for them to recuperate their minds and bodies, but they were soon eager to get back on stage.
“I’ve been practising Pilates for years, so I decided to take a course to become a teacher during lockdown and I qualified last year,” said Hendrick. “Scottish Ballet also had classes organised on Zoom and we had a dance floor delivered to our homes, but it feels great to be back in front of a live audience again.”
Loudon added: “It was good to have that rest, but it also made me realise how much I want to do this job. We did classes over Zoom, which is fun to a point, but you don’t want to knock over a table or have the downstairs neighbour complaining when you start to jump, so it was great to get back into the studio.”