More than 200 schools have been affected by rows over the future of Scottish Ballet, as this term’s workshops have been abandoned. Schools trying to book have been turned away.
Regular workshops supporting company performances are normally run 20 a week, 10 weeks a term. But the education programme was suspended after the Scottish Arts Council threatened in July to withhold its Pounds 2.1 million grant.
Now that Scottish Ballet’s board has met SAC demands for its resignation and a new board is in place, the Christmas programme will go ahead with La Fille Mal Gardee, and special educational projects will proceed this month in Glasgow and Aberdeen. Due to pressure caused by delays, routine workshops run by the small education team will not resume until January.
“The Edinburgh week in December will be the normal programme, but using a freelance team because we are now committed to the intensive projects,” Jacqueline McKay, head of education, said.
A merry dance, TESS2, page 10
