LOCAL dancers are to perform in the Ballet Central 2017 tour in Ayr.

Central School of Ballet students Amy McEntee, Johnathan MacDonald and Craig McFarlane are all looking forward to returning home to Scotland to perform in this year’s Ballet Central tour in their home country.

Under the guidance of its new artistic director Christopher Marney, Ballet Central’s diverse range of dance and theatre will now appear in 22 towns and cities across a five month period including The Gaiety in Ayr at 7.30 pm on Thursday, May 11.

Ballet Central gives audiences across the country the chance to see the company’s young and dynamic dancers, showcasing newly-commissioned works and celebrated masterpieces by the dance industry’s top choreographers.  

The repertoire for this year’s tour features Act 2 of Highland Fling by Matthew Bourne, Indigo Children by Royal Ballet artist-in-residence Liam Scarlett, and a new version of the ballroom scene from Romeo & Juliet by former English National Ballet’s Jenna Lee. 

Christopher Marney, Artistic Director of Ballet Central, said: “The Ballet Central 2017 tour will this year visit ten new venues reaching from Penzance in Cornwall to Ayr in Scotland.

This year’s performance showcases the best dance theatre from current industry professionals and gives you the chance to see newly-commissioned work and refreshed classics from the world’s top choreographers.”

Sir Matthew Bourne OBE, who is a renowned artistic director and founder of Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures company.

He said: “A graduate from Central School of Ballet is a valuable asset in any company for they have already experienced life as a professional dancer by touring with Ballet Central.  

“I have had the pleasure of working with many highly talented graduates of Central School of Ballet, indeed, several have played demanding leading roles in my productions with great success.”