The Swan of Salen

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.

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Eala Shàilein/the Swan of Salen is a small-scale folk ballet created 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, blending traditional music from the Loch Sunart area with the classical score. The performance features a film of the brand-new choreography by Deborah (Norris) Ward, projected behind the three harpists performing a live-synced score. 

Tradition bearer Mary Ann Kennedy consulted with us on Gaelic culture, music, language and history throughout the project - we are incredibly grateful for her sharing her wealth of knowledge.

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The production premiered in February of 2023, accompanied by a CD release.