Scottish Ballet seems surrounded by friends right now. On the opening night of their traditional annual tour of Scotland's outlying towns and regions, dance elder statespersons Robert Cohan and Lynn Seymour were in attendance -- and there was a warm reception from what could be described as the company's natural constituency at Dunfermline's Carnegie Hall.

SCOTTISH Ballet’s national tour is taking them to parts of the country other shows cannot reach. Introducing dance to a hitherto uninitiated audience, the company is hoping to acquire a new band of admirers, which is why this mixed programme has such wide-ranging appeal. While not exactly "dumbing down", Scottish Ballet have definitely selected works from the more accessible end of their repertoire - and those which demonstrate what a broad church modern ballet can be.

KARA and I met at the Dance School of Scotland in Knightswood. She was the year below me. Kara stuck out because she was already a really good dancer. Since we both boarded we wound up spending a lot of time together. She was always so serious in class, but outside her true personality would come out. Staying in the halls of residence was like a five-year-long pyjama party.