Argyll based dance company Ballet West is to give the first performances of new ballets by London Based choreographer, Frank Freeman and former artistic director of Scottish Ballet, Kenn Burke. Ballet West will perform “I Palpiti” and “Los Juegos de los Chicos” as part of its forthcoming production “Upstage”, which will be toured throughout Scotland in June and July.

 “I Palpiti” is an evocative and beautiful piece performed to Paganini’s Variations for Violin and orchestra on theme by Rossini from “Il Tante Palpiti”, an aria from his opera Thycredi. The choreographer, Frank Freeman, was trained at the Royal Ballet School and danced with the Royal Ballet Company and English National Ballet. After he retired from dancing, he retrained as a teacher and went on to become a major examiner for the Royal Academy of Dance, teacher and choreographer, working in all of the major ballet schools at home and abroad. He has had a long association with Ballet West when asked about his inspiration for this piece, Frank explained “When Gillian Barton invited me to choreograph a ballet for her company, I immediately wanted to write something for the dancers to this music. Having taught and worked for the company as guest teacher for several years, I was well aware of their special technical and artistic qualities. I knew I would be able to show their wonderful classicism to best effect by choreographing to Paganini’s virtuoso piece for violin and orchestra”.

“Los Juegos de los Chicos” is an amusing piece inspired by the games that children play performed to the music of Dimitry Kabalevsky. The choreographer, Kenn Burke, spent the majority of his dancing life with Scottish Ballet. He was appointed Artistic Director of Scottish Ballet 2 in 1990, which performed small scale touring works to isolated communities throughout Scotland. He was Assistant Artistic Director the main company under Galina Samsova and subsequently became the Acting Artistic Director, during which time he staged the ambitious and highly successful La Fille Mal Gardée

The new ballets are contrasted by the second part of the evening. “Soundtrack” pays homage to the highlights of dance in the movies. Taking in songs and dances from films as diverse as “Mary Poppins”, “Grease” and “Moulin Rouge”. It have been devised and directed by the same team that brought the very successful “Fame” to the stage last summer. This production promises the same very high standard of dance and vocal talent

So settle down and, as the lights dim, Ballet West will take you on a rollercoaster ride through the familiar and unforgettable world of movie musicals.

22 & 23 June - Corran Halls, Oban, 7.30pm.  01631 567333
24 June - Nevis Centre, Fort William,  7.30 pm 01397 700707
26 June - Campbeltown Grammar School, Campbeltown,  7.30 pm 01586 553346
10 July - Eden Court Theatre, Inverness, 7.30 pm 01463 234234
13 July - Eastwood Theatre, Giffnock,  7.30 pm 0141 577 4970
14 July - RSAMD, Glasgow, 7.30 pm 0141 332 5057
15 July - Palace Theatre, Kilmarnock, 7.30 pm 01563 554900
16 July - Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline, 7.30 pm 01338 314000
17 July - macrobert, Stirling, 8.00 pm 01786 466666