Founded in 1991, and celebrating its 25 year anniversary in 2016, Ballet West in Taynuilt has grown from a local dance school to a leading Scottish Centre of Excellence for ballet training. In recent years the school has developed a higher education programme attracting students from all over the UK and internationally to study for an honours degree in dance.
To meet the demand for places at the school, Ballet West requires an expansion in its facilities and a new studio complex is planned that will be used by expanding numbers of degree students and the local community. The project will cost £1.4M.
In addition to meeting the needs of the students, the new studio complex will provide rehearsal space for Ballet West's full-scale classical ballet productions which tour Scotland and internationally. It has the potential of being used as a performance space and will open up all of Ballet West’s facilities for greater use by the local community. At the same time, the addition of a third studio on the site will free up space for more part-time courses for local students and for expanding Ballet West's popular summer schools for young people.
Ballet West has launched an appeal for funding to help meet the cost of the studio. It has been designed by local architects and will be built by local builders.
You can make a donation to Ballet West by clicking on the Make Secure Payment tab at the bottom of this page. Please remember to write ‘Donation’ in the reference box.
Alternatively, you can make your donation via our JustGiving page – just press the button and it will take you to our fundraising page:
Finally, you could send a cheque, the old-fashioned way, to Ballet West, Ichrachan House, Taynuilt, PA35 1HP
Ballet West is a centre of excellence for ballet training in Scotland. As a charity, we can only maintain this exceptional level of education through the generous support of our patrons and sponsors. If you would like to develop a closer relationship with Ballet West and actively support our programmes of work, then choose the option below that suits best.
Please don’t hesitate to contact a member of our team if you’d like more information – we’d love to hear from you.
There are various ways that you can support us –
Become a Ballet West Patron – Gold, Silver or Bronze
To make a donation to Ballet West now, please click on the Make Secure Payment tab at the bottom of this page. Please remember to add a reference so that we know what you are supporting. Thank you.
Ballet West tour Scotland annually and have toured China twice in the past few years. We are keen to continue developing our touring programme and need the help of Corporate Sponsors to do this successfully. The costs involved in staging and touring major ballet productions of the quality we strive for are huge and we are now looking for corporate partners who want to share in an exciting future for Ballet West and classical dance in Scotland.
Opportunities exist for companies to promote their products and services through working with Ballet West and we are happy to tailor sponsorship benefits to individual parties. We would also be delighted to discuss how your company can provide us with in-kind support.
Please email us at [email protected] or call us on 01866822641 to discuss.
Would you like some can-can dancers to add a touch of the Moulin Rouge to your event? Or a classical pas de deux to add class? We can offer tailored entertainment packages for corportae events and parties. Our dancers are skilled in classical dance, can-can, jazz and singing. Call us on 01866 822641 and we can discuss your needs.
We have had dancers featured in the following films - "Rob Roy" with Jessica Lange and Liam Neeson & "Mrs Brown" with Dame Judi Dench and Billy Connolly.
We have also been involved in a stunning photo shoot with Vanity Fair (see photo at top of page).
To discuss your corporate entertainment needs, contact us at [email protected]
"As Patron of Ballet West, it gives me enormous pleasure to support the campaign to raise funds to build a new studio in Taynuilt. Ever since it started Ballet West has proved to be an enormous success, firstly bringing the best of ballet teaching to the Highlands, and now reaching out worldwide, through its degree and its tours, both domestic and international, by students and professional dancers.
Ballet West has been so successful that the demand for places is enormous and there is an urgent need for a larger and better equipped studio. I applaud the astonishing achievements of Gillian Barton, her staff and her students and look forward to the new facilities, which will enable the school to continue to grow and to thrive".
Ballet West
Ichrachan House - Taynuilt - Argyll - PA35 1HP - Scotland - UK
t. 01866 822641 - e. [email protected]
Ballet West is a company limited by guarantee with charitable status
Company Number 175325 - Scottish Charity Number SCO22105
