Sophie, along with other members Sam MacAdam and Romy Wymer, will be joining us at Mareel on Saturday 16 November for a performance of their show The Swan of Salen, an enchanting fusion of music, dance and drama.
Sophie tells us more about the performance - and her musical beginnings in Shetland - in the blog below.
"On a small tidal island on the shore of Loch Sunart lie the ruins of the iron age fortress of Dùn Ghallain. It was here that our story took place.
Eala Shàilein/The Swan of Salen is a small-scale folk ballet created by the Willow Trio in collaboration with Ballet Folk and Thistle Ridge Films. It's an adaptation of Tchaikovsky's iconic Swan Lake, retold through the lens of the Gaelic tale of Eala Shàilein, in which a chieftain’s son falls in love with a low-born girl. The performance blends traditional arts from the Loch Sunart area with the classical score and features a film of the brand-new choreography by Deborah Norris, projected behind the three harpists performing a live-synced score.
I'm incredibly excited to be returning to Shetland, where my musical journey began. It's a special place with a strong tradition of music and dance, and I can't wait to share The Swan of Salen with the community that has always supported me. It's hard to believe that The Swan of Salen is making it to Shetland, having started out as an idea at the beginning of 2020! A small-scale live performance with one dancer grew into a full-fledged multimedia production involving over 25 collaborators and it was such a privilege to work with Thistle Ridge films and Ballet Folk.
The pandemic forced us to rethink our approach to creating a ballet, and we embraced the challenge by showcasing the choreography in the form of a film to accompany our live performance. This small-scale format has allowed us to reach audiences in remote and rural areas, bringing the merging of traditional and classical art formats to communities that might not otherwise have access to such performances. As we face increasing environmental challenges, we're committed to minimising our carbon footprint. That's why we've designed The Swan of Salen to be as sustainable as possible - I believe we’re the only ballet production that can fit into a single car! By reducing our reliance on large vehicles and extensive touring logistics, we're able to significantly reduce our carbon emissions. This allows us to reach more communities without compromising our commitment to sustainability.
The Swan of Salen is more than just a performance; it's a celebration of Gaelic culture. By fusing traditional dance and music with Tchaicovsky’s iconic Swan Lake score and ballet, we hope to create a unique and unforgettable experience that celebrates these two musical heritages side by side.
Having begun my musical education in Shetland (a huge thank you to Diane Garrick for this!) it's incredibly exciting to come back with The Swan of Salen. It's a work I take great pride in and being able to share it with a community that has always been so encouraging and supportive of my musical career feels incredibly special.
Join us at Mareel on November 16th for a truly magical evening of music, dance and drama!"
