The Shetland Community School of Ballet

07/09/2026

The Shetland Community School of Ballet’s reputation is impressive as it is the most northerly dance school in the UK with pupils travelling from most of the outlying islands or, at some distance, to attend classes on Saturdays in the Scalloway youth community Centre. We have even started live streaming to Foula on Saturday mornings after a request from parents there keen to give their youngsters some new leisure activity.

This year the school is celebrating 16 years of excellence marking a decade and a half of providing top-notch ballet education to their students, who have received praise for their dedication and work ethics from international visitors who have come to not only observe the schools classes but to participate in teaching them. This exchange has not only benefited the students but also showcase the schools teaching methods and philosophies. The schools achievements haven’t gone unnoticed as it has been featured in international publications, highlighting its unique approach to ballet education and its status as the most normally distant school in the UK.

Last year a selection of pupils had the opportunity to travel abroad to attend a dance workshop in Germany. This experience not only expose them to different techniques and styles of teaching but also broadened their horizons.

Before Covid came, the school hosted an annual weekend dance workshop with international guest teachers attending and on two lucky occasions the guest pianist was David Plumpton who is internationally known as one of the finest ballet accompanist. The school was extremely fortunate to have him come up to Shetland to play for its workshops. Some of the school’s ex pupils have gone on further to study in the arts on mainland Scotland. One such pupil, Emily Briggs, who attained her MA in dance and drama and has also studied physical theatre and mime in Barcelona, has on several occasions been able to come back and teach the school’s pupils which are always special occasions . This year she put on a solo show at the Edinburgh fringe festival and we hope to see a lot more of her in Shetland in the future.

The schools pupils have demonstrated a remarkable dedication and work hard in their classes in pressing visitors with their talent and commitment to the out of dance whether it be ballet, jazz, tap or trying anything a visiting teacher throws at them!

We also run classes for adult pupils on Saturday afternoons running from 14:30
to 15:45, and the jazz class is after that

If you are interested in enrolling your child then please get in touch with the school through this page or text Matthew on (07975) 973195 or email him on [email protected]. You can enrol your child to start at any time. We offer a taster session for one class and if more than one sibling is taking part then there is an attractive discount available to parents; second sibling half price, third child quarter! If you have four children attending one will be free!

06/08/2026

Hullo! ’m on a hunt for the schools black tutus. Did you ever have one and if you have it still could we have it back? Xx

05/08/2026

Has anyone still got a black tutu that they were using in Senior class? We would kind of like to get them to give to the next girls moving up? Please let me know if you have one!

27/07/2026

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20260717-the-surprising-benefits-of-a-five-minute-dance-break

From improved concentration to higher creativity, dancing offers a range of brain-boosting benefits. And you don't need to spend hours on the dance floor to feel the effects.

26/07/2026

The Shetland Community School of Ballet is run by Matthew Lawrence, a former Royal New Zealand Ballet Dancer, who has been working in the arts through dancing, acting, West End theatre, film and television for 60 years. The school offers classes in ballet, tap, jazz and contemporary dance. Come 2027 the school will have been operating for 17 years and pupils who have left Shetland to live on mainland UK still continue dancing and some are undertaking courses in Dance at universities from Cornwall to Edinburgh. The school has several notable alumni: Emily Briggs who attained her MA in Dance and drama at PASS in Edinburgh and has also studied physical theatre and mime in Barcelona. She very recently performed a solo show at the Edinburgh fringe festival and occasionally when she has time, she returns to teach at the school. Our other alumni is Abbie Nicolson who also studied at PASS in Edinburgh and attained her MA in Dance syndrome. Abbie lives and works in Edinburgh, doing a lot of of extra work appearing in films and works in theatre as well.

In 2025 a group of students attended a Dance workshop in Germany at The Koblenz School of Ballet, run by Sara and Paul Cocker, spending a week learning different techniques and styles of teaching and culminating in a performance to parents.

The school is also looking at ways to try and make dance classes more accessible to more children as well, being conscious of the constant struggle parents are having to cope with being able to put their children into leisure activities, which can be expensive needing special clothes and shoes for example. Watch this space.

Matthew was recently interviewed for A Morning With Jim Mora on Radio New Zealand, about his life in Shetland and about the ballet school. He then found out that this radio show had an audience of about two million! His inbox since has been overflowing with messages from people who were in Primary school with him in the 60’s and ex dance colleagues.

The Shetland Community School of Ballet has a strong reputation for providing top-notch Dance education and international teachers coming to Shetland to teach at the school have praised its students for their dedication and work ethic. It’s also the northern most dance school in the UK!

If you are interested in registering your child for classes with the school, you can contact Matthew through the schools open page on Facebook or text him on 07975973195 or email him: [email protected]

24/07/2026

One of our lovely Senior Pupils attended The Scottish Royal Conservatoire Dance Workshop recently. Effie Flaws thoroughly enjoyed a week long workshop full of dance classes and much more. Something to consider for 2027 for other pupils in the school as Effie said it was a great experience and she wants to do it all again!

16/05/2026

Lucy and myself have gained our Emergency First Aid/Emergency Paediatric First Aid. Certificates.

25/01/2026

19/01/2026