BALLET dancers have been creating makeshift studios at home using mantelpieces and chairs to keep themselves in condition during lockdown.

Dancers from Scottish Ballet have not been able to train at their base at the Tramway in Glasgow due to the restrictions and have been keeping in touch with classes on Zoom.

With no special barre – the handrail used for support during exercises – in their homes, the 40 dancers have made do with holding on to pieces of furniture.

Each dancer has also been given a piece of dance floor, cut up after being used on tour in Korea with a previous production, to ensure they have the right grip for their feet.

The company has now launched a fundraising Back to the Barre appeal to raise money to buy a portable barre for each dancer and ensure they can train safely at home, and to purchase items such as mini trampolines and free weights for them.

Scottish Ballet artistic director Christopher Hampson said: “While it’s good for athletes and artists to take a little break from their craft, the strength starts to go after a couple of weeks so it’s really important we are able to get them access to their daily training.

“Maintaining their strength and condition is one of the specific challenges, so we are trying to get them barres because people are having to hold on to mantelpieces, backs of chairs or nothing at all.

“Having to make do with what you have at home and improvise opens up the risk of injury or re-injury. The Back to the Barre appeal will mean the dancers can train safely in their homes.”