About Scottish Ballet

Scottish Ballet is the national ballet company of Scotland, based in Glasgow, and one of the five leading ballet companies in the United Kingdom. The company traces its origins to 1957, when Peter Darrell and Elizabeth West founded the Western Theatre Ballet in Bristol. In 1969 the company relocated to Glasgow, becoming Scottish Theatre Ballet before adopting its current name in 1974. Employing 36 professional dancers and a part-time freelance orchestra of up to 70 musicians, the company performs across Scotland, the UK, and internationally, with touring credits including China, Hong Kong, Portugal, and Ireland. Its broad repertoire spans new versions of classical works, 20th-century modern ballet, and new commissions from contemporary choreographers. The company is led by CEO and Artistic Director Christopher Hampson CBE, who joined in 2012. Scottish Ballet was the first dance company in Europe to offer live audio description for visually impaired audiences, and won the Outstanding Company award at the 2023 National Dance Awards.