11 Jan 2024
Scotland’s national child and youth care charity, Kibble, has joined forces with the country’s national dance company, Scottish Ballet, to once again provide opportunities for young people who would otherwise not have access to classical dance.
The Close project, run by Scottish Ballet in partnership with Kibble, gives young people an enriching cultural experience. For young people at Kibble, many of whom have faced adversity, it provides an outlet for self-expression, a chance to explore their creativity, develop teamwork skills and improve confidence.
The collaborative four-week project involved five young people from Kibble, alongside teachers, child and youth workers and Scottish Ballet staff.
During the programme, the group attended Tramway, Glasgow, home of Scottish Ballet, and the Beacon Arts Centre at Inverclyde, where they learned a series of repertoire from Scottish Ballet productions including Scottish Ballet’s latest festive production ‘Cinders’. The group expressed their creativity with their own contemporary dance routines exploring various themes and between rehearsals, met Scottish Ballet principal dancers and enjoyed a tour of the theatre and studios from front of house to the sparkling sequins of the costume department.
The grand finale of the programme involved a dance showcase called ‘Sharing’ where young people performed various routines building on what they had learned. Many of the young people will take these learnings back with them to drama studies at Kibble now with increased self-confidence.
Miki Lee Dale, Special Programmes Manager at Scottish Ballet said: “Scottish Ballet and Kibble have cultivated an enduring collaboration known as The Close, delving into bespoke projects that harness the transformative power of dance and the arts for the personal development of young individuals at Kibble. Our joint efforts focus on expanding their movement vocabulary, providing exploratory tools, and guiding them through creative processes.
“In our most recent venture, we delved into the core themes of our productions, including Cinders, Twice Born, and Schachmatt. The students at Kibble utilised these themes as inspiration to craft and perform their unique perspectives on these themes during a dance showcase. The success of this project is a testament to the relationships fostered between staff and pupils, and between Scottish Ballet and Kibble.”
Jim Gillespie, Chief Executive Officer of Kibble said: “Kibble and Scottish Ballet have been collaborating on The Close for several years, opening up exciting opportunities and immersive experiences for young people.
“The impact the project has had on young people has been profound - through dance, movement and music, The Close enabled young people to explore and convey their emotion, whilst developing confidence and self-belief. This, combined with visiting the studios, meeting the dancers and receiving a VIP invitation to the upcoming performance of Cinders made for a truly unforgettable experience. I’d like to say a huge thank you to all at Scottish Ballet for helping to create these unique opportunities for young people each year.”
To find out more about Kibble, visit www.kibble.org.
Pictured: Bruno Micchiardi as Cinders and Jessica Fyfe as Princess Louise in Scottish Ballet's Cinders.
Picture courtesy of Andy Ross
