We can’t keep it a secret any longer!

We are delighted to announce the five wishes that will come true in 2019, as part of our 50th anniversary celebrations.

Over 400 wishes were submitted to our Five Wishes campaign, with over 100,000 votes cast by the general public. The top 50 were presented to a celebrity judging panel which  includes Dame Darcey Bussell, Susan Calman, Fred MacAulay, Janice Forsyth, Christopher Hampson and Principal dancer Christopher Harrison.

Looking for a variety of original, personal and imaginative wishes, the judges chose the final five based on their inspiring individual stories and their impact on the wider community; taking us across the country.

From rehearsing and performing with the company, to conducting the orchestra and working alongside the wardrobe team, the selected wishes will all take place in Scotland during 2019. The story of the wishes will be captured in a BBC Scotland documentary that will be broadcast at the end of the year.

Wish 1: Having a ball with Cinderella

On Saturday 12 January, we made the first of five wishes come true.

Lily Douglas, aged 11, was surprised by the company’s Principal dancers, Bethany Kingsley-Garner, Constance Devernay and Sophie Martin, who revealed that her dream of dancing with the company, taking a backstage tour, and watching Cinderella in Glasgow would come true.

This was chosen as the first wish alongside a submission for a fellow ballet lover, Rosie Mitchell, aged 7, who was similarly being treated for cancer. We were honoured to meet Rosie in December, and to dance together to her favourite song at her ballet school in Greenock. Very sadly, Rosie passed away in January 2019. Everyone at Scottish Ballet has been deeply inspired by Rosie’s passion for dance and we send all our love to Rosie’s family and her ballet teacher, Julie, at this difficult time.

Championed by Dame Darcey Bussell.

Wish 2: Dance into Spring!

Jemma McRae, owner and dance teacher at Academy Street Dance Studio in Aberdeen, wished for Scottish Ballet to visit and dance in her studio, as a way of saying thank you to her students for their support during her treatment for breast cancer.

On Thursday 17 January, dancers Christopher Harrison and Araminta Wraith, surprised Jemma and her students and revealed that the company will work with the school to create a special performance that will coincide with the Spring! opening in Aberdeen in April.

Very sadly, Jemma passed away in early February 2019. We remain committed to making her wish come true and send our love and sympathies to Jemma’s family, friends and students at this difficult time.

Championed by Principal dancer Christopher Harrison.

Wish 3: ‘We Sing, You Dance’

Lesley Cumming, Alzheimer Scotland’s Community Activities Officer for West Dunbartonshire, wished for Scottish Ballet to join the Every Voice Choir for their summer celebration in Dumbarton.

On Wednesday 30 January, dancers Constance Devernay and Jamiel Laurence visited the choir and revealed that we would work with them to create a unique performance for their community event; bringing their wish of ‘We Sing, You Dance’ to life. We will also invite the choir to perform on stage at a performance of The Snow Queen in Edinburgh in December.

Championed by Susan Calman.

Wish 4: Creating costumes for The Crucible

Poppy Camden, a recent graduate of the Fashion Design programme at Glasgow School of Art, wished to work with Scottish Ballet’s costume department during a production. Looking to make a career working with costumes for theatre and dance, we have invited Poppy to spend time behind the scenes; to observe the inner workings of the company on tour, and to experience what goes into creating, fitting and maintaining costumes for The Crucible.

Championed by Janice Forsyth.

Wish 5: Conducting The Snow Queen

At the age of 45, retired musician Colin Bowen was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. A professional musician who has played with orchestras in Scotland, his wife Anne wished for him to conduct the Scottish Ballet Orchestra in rehearsal. Colin will conduct the Orchestra as they prepare for The Snow Queen, leading a section of the Rimsky-Korsakov score.

Championed by Fred MacAulay.

The judging panel were overwhelmed by the number of submissions made to our Five Wishes campaign but after careful deliberation, have chosen a mix of creative and heartfelt wishes, influenced by the inspiring stories behind them. We are excited to welcome these people to the Scottish Ballet family and thank them for the support of the company during 2019.

Christopher Hampson, CEO/Artistic Director