"I have honestly not seen such an enjoyable Nutcracker in years"
Kenneth Spiers Mail on Sunday

Press Release

It is the Christmas party in the Stahlbaum household and the young Clara is given a beautiful Nutcracker doll. After everyone has gone to bed and the house is quiet, Clara returns to be with her Nutcracker doll and discovers that he can take her on magical adventures through the land of the Mouse King, dancing snowflakes and the wonderful land of sweets.

The Argyll based school and company, Ballet West, is to perform a touring production of “The Nutcracker” throughout Scotland and the production follows the success of the company’s last classical production “Sleeping Beauty”, which was described “Slick, professional and altogether enjoyable” by one reviewer and “a fairy tale performance” by another.

The choreographer for this magical seasonal classic is Alexander Bennett. Born in Edinburgh, Mr Bennett achieved international acclaim in the Ballet Rambert and the Royal Ballet. Throughout his years as a principal dancer in both companies he partnered such distinguished ballerinas as Dane Margot Fonteyn, Lynn Seymour, Doreen Wells, Carla Fracci and Melissa Hayden. Among his list of credits he has served as ballet master to the Royal Opera at Covent Garden, Ballet de Brazil in Rio de Janeiro, South African Ballet in Johannesburg. During that time he worked with many of the great choreographers including Peter Darrell, Sir Peter Wright and Sir Robert Helpmann

Ballet West was established in Taynuilt, Argyll in 1991, principally to provide Scotland with a focused centre of excellence in dance training. Based on the principle, not only of teaching and training of classical ballet technique, but offering students the opportunity of learning aspects of life as a professional dancer, through the numerous annual performances it offers around Scotland and elsewhere.

Corran Halls, Oban
Wednesday 15-Nov-06 7:30pm
Thursday 16-Nov-06 7:30pm
£10 / £7
01631 567333

Macrobert, Stirling
Friday 26-Jan-07 8:00pm
Saturday 27-Jan-07 2:00pm
Saturday 27-Jan-07 8:00pm
£10 / £8
01786 466666

Perth Concert Hall
Saturday 20-Jan-07 7:45pm
£12 / £8
01738 621031

Cumbernauld Theatre
Friday 16-Feb-07 7:45pm
Saturday 17-Feb-07 Matinee
Saturday 17-Feb-07 7:45pm
01236 732887

The Palace Theatre, Kilmarnock
Saturday 10-Feb-07 7:30pm
£10 / £7 Family ticket £28
01563 554900