Meet an Apprentice: Callum McGregor

Photo by photographybyash.

“It means a great deal for me to be joining CBJ. This is my first professional contract as a dancer…”

Callum McGregor is one of CBJ’s 2019-20 Company Apprentices. Callum hails from Glasgow, Scotland and has trained extensively in a range of dance genres. As an apprentice, Callum is touring in CBJ performances, participating in education programs, and continuing his professional development with CBJ’s company dancers and artistic team. Get to know Callum in this interview about his training and reflections on being part of CBJ

 

What can you share about your dance background and training?
I have been dancing for 12 years now, and I’ve have had exposure to many styles of dance, including ballet, contemporary, jazz, tap, musical theatre, and Spanish dancing. I trained at the Dance School of Scotland for four years before moving to London for three years to join the Central School of Ballet.

 

What have been some of your performance highlights?
I have had amazing opportunities, such as being one of 50 dancers from around the world to be part of the first Prix de Lausanne Choreographic Project in 2018. This past year, I toured the UK with Ballet Central (Central School of Ballet’s graduate touring company). We danced at over 25 venues across the country, performing a variety of pieces from choreographers such as Kenneth MacMillan and Fredrick Ashton. Other performance highlights include being a guest artist in New English Ballet Theatre’s 2018 season, and touring with the Scottish Ballet Youth Exchange to Singapore, Edinburgh, and London in 2015-16 with a piece by choreographer Kerry Nicholls.

Photo by photographybyash.

“The rehearsals with Bengt and the artistic staff have been amazing. I’ve learned so much so quickly, and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the year holds.”

What does it mean to you to be an apprentice with Canada’s Ballet Jörgen?
It means a great deal for me to be joining CBJ. This is my first professional contract as a dancer, and I am ever so grateful to have been given the opportunity to spend this year working with such talented dancers and artistic staff.

What has your experience as an apprentice been like so far?
It has been so much fun! I’ve been loving every minute of it, and I have gotten on so well with the company. Everyone has been so welcoming and nurturing towards me and has made me feel at home after moving from the UK. The rehearsals with Bengt and the artistic staff have been amazing. I’ve learned so much so quickly, and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the year holds.

What are you looking forward to as you look ahead to the rest of your apprenticeship?
I’m looking forward to touring Canada and some parts of the US with CBJ, but most of all I’m really looking forward to learning from all of the staff and dancers and becoming a stronger performer and dancer.

Learn more about the RBC Apprenticeship Program for emerging professional dancers with Canada’s Ballet Jörgen here.

Written by Victoria Campbell Windle, CBJ Communications Contributor.

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