Scottish Ballet backs the Kiltwalk

Scottish Ballet dancers swapped their ballet shoes for boots as they tested out the route for next month’s Glasgow Kiltwalk.

Article Source: Kiltwalk
Last Updated: 24 March 2018 15:20

Nicholas Shoesmith (soloist) and Glasgow-born Jamie Reid (artist) who are both performing in Matthew Bourne’s Highland Fling were Clyde-side with Kiltwalk’s Event Manager Yvonne Kincaid, as they called upon Scots to participate in the Glasgow event on 29 April.

The Scottish Ballet dancers, who are currently preparing for their spring tour took time out of their rehearsal schedule for this worthy cause and headed down to the Clyde Walkway which forms part of the Glasgow route.

Paul Cooney, Chief Executive of the Royal Bank of Scotland Kiltwalk, said: “We are really pleased to have support from Scottish Ballet, Scotland’s national dance company. The Kiltwalk allows participants to walk for any charity; raising money to ensure that Scotland can continue to cultivate talent and safeguard the arts is certainly a worthy cause.”

The dancers were dressed in their Highland Fling costumes ahead of opening in Glasgow’s Theatre Royal from 4-7 April. The tour will continue onto Edinburgh with the full-scale production visiting Shetland, Orkney, Oban and Stornoway, which is a first for Scottish Ballet.

Affectionately known as a romantic wee ballet, this is Matthew Bourne’s interpretation of La Sylphide for the Trainspotting generation - a classical ballet set in modern-day Glasgow with a humorous dark gothic twist.

Christopher Hampson, CEO/Artistic Director, Scottish Ballet added: “We are honoured to support Kiltwalk this year and wish The Hunter Foundation and all participants the very best in raising monies for their chosen charities.”

The Glasgow Kiltwalk, which starts at Glasgow Green, takes place on Sunday 29 April. Walkers can choose to walk for any charity of their choice including Scottish Ballet, which is a registered charity.

Thanks to the unique fundraising formula from Kiltwalk backers The Hunter Foundation, for every £100 raised by a walker, your chosen charity receives £140, ensuring the Kiltwalk offers one of the most effective fundraising models of any mass participation event.

Last year, more than 14,000 people took part in one of the four Kiltwalks helping to raise over £1.9million and with The Hunter Foundation’s 40% top up, over £2.6 million was raised for over 780 charities across Scotland. This year organisers want to see even more people take part.

Walkers can choose from four Kiltwalks this year, the first in Glasgow on 29 April, Aberdeen on 3 June, St Andrews to Dundee on 19 August and Edinburgh on 16 September. Each walk has three distances to choose from to suit people of all ages and abilities. With Glasgow, the 23-mile Mighty Stride starts in Glasgow Green and ends in Balloch, there’s also a 15-mile Big Stroll and six-mile Wee Wander.

For more information about the Kiltwalk, or to register, visit www.thekiltwalk.co.uk