News

Cementing Scottish Ballet’s history in its new home at Tramway

16th July 2008

It’s been full steam ahead at Scottish Ballet over the past six months, with two world-premiere large-scale tours (The Sleeping Beauty and Romeo and Juliet), as well as a recent small-scale tour that covered the length and breadth of Scotland, from Stranraer to Shetland, and from the Borders to the Western Isles. But it’s not only our dancers that have been working hard - our brand new home at Tramway is really taking shape and has made quite an impressive mark on the landscape of Pollokshaws Road in Glasgow’s south side already! As the building work continues on this historic new landmark, we took the opportunity to create our own piece of history by cementing a time capsule deep into the walls of our new headquarters.

Filled with memorabilia from the Company past and present, the time capsule also contains contributions from Tramway and The Hidden Gardens, marking the beginning of a new relationship that will create a unique multi-arts production and presentation centre of a nature and scale unrivalled in the UK. The time capsule replaces an original capsule found in July 2006 by demolition workers following the collapse of the derelict end of the Victorian Tramway complex – the site of the new Scottish Ballet headquarters – which was thought to have been buried in October 1893.

Scottish Ballet dancers Tomomi Sato and Christopher Harrison were on hand to help lay to rest the time capsule, along with Scottish Government Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture, Linda Fabiani MSP.

Scottish Ballet still has just over £400,000 to raise to reach its final Tramway Appeal target. Please help Scotland’s national dance company take those final few steps by donating now!

First sights of Scottish Ballet’s new home

18th March 2008

The first signs of a new home for Scottish Ballet appeared last month. A steel skeleton of what will become the new headquarters for Scotland’s national dance company now occupies the building site next to the existing Tramway venue in the south side of Glasgow.

The tailor-made premises will house rehearsal rooms, a health and fitness centre, technical workshop, wardrobe department, as well as administration offices. 25,000 people per year will benefit from a new Education Centre, not only in the immediate community, but across Scotland and the UK.

As Scottish Ballet’s new building takes shape, spaces within the Tramway complex are also being developed: an extended and improved cafe bar is now open, and a new gallery space, a new visual arts studio and a new independent professional dance studio will open during the course of this year.

With construction well underway, the project is running smoothly and on time for completion early 2009.

How high is the sky!

Notes of encouragement and cheques are arriving by the day at headquarters in response to a letter from Appeal Chairman Niall Scott, sent to 12,000 Scottish Ballet supporters.

Some people are choosing to honour a loved one by arranging for their name to be recorded in perpetuity on the Donor Wall in the new building. Others have accompanied their donation with a note of support:

"What a wonderful project,' writes Mrs Paton from Danestone in Aberdeen. I am a huge fan of Scottish Ballet. If they can achieve what they do under the circumstances you describe, all I can think is 'how high is the sky'. The best of luck with the project."

Thank you to all the generous people who have responded to our Appeal. We will keep you posted about progress!

Behind the Scenes with Scottish Ballet!

Saturday 8th September, 11am to 4pm

To celebrate the Company’s move to Tramway towards the end of 2008, Behind The Scenes With Scottish Ballet will offer a fun insight into what the Company does, as well as offering many exciting opportunities for you to get involved – fun crafts, interactive workshops, inside tips on how to make a tutu or apply makeup for the stage, and even your chance to meet Scottish Ballet’s dancers and ask all your burning ballet questions

Running from 11am to 4pm, this free, family friendly event really is a unique opportunity to experience Scottish Ballet up close and personal. Enjoy a showcase of performances from Scottish Ballet, with presentations from the Company, demonstrations by the Junior Associates and community class participants, and even the opportunity for budding dancers to join in with some taster sessions for all.

Held in Tramway, the Company’s future home, this unique event will reveal everything you ever wanted to know about Scotland’s National Dance Company and a whole lot more.

Find out how Scottish Ballet’s brand new headquarters at Tramway will help the Company go from strength to strength. Hear all the inside info on the Company’s forthcoming world premiere of The Sleeping Beauty and enjoy music from members of the Scottish Ballet orchestra with performances by a brass quartet, a string trio and a wind trio throughout the day.

Behind The Scenes With Scottish Ballet is open to all ages, and admission is free.

For further information please contact Scottish Ballet on 0141 331 2931 or Tramway box office on 0845 330 3501.