With theatres still closed for the foreseeable future and shorter, colder days closing in, Scottish Ballet are here to remedy our Covid blues with a dazzling digital winter programme that will bring the magic of dance straight to our homes.

Unprecedented times call for creative action, and to this end, Scottish Ballet will be releasing their first-ever feature film, The Secret Theatre, on Mon 21 Dec. This magical tale of a young boy's adventures in an empty theatre will draw upon music, characters and choreography from across Scottish Ballet's festive catalogue – just in time to bring some wonder and merriment to our Christmas. Affirming the company's love for the theatres that remain shuttered for the time being, and the enduring importance of art and performance, the film will feature a score by Rimsky-Kosakov and Tchaikovsky, recorded live by the Scottish Ballet Orchestra. A series of talks and workshops will follow on from the premiere tailored to the communities that Scottish Ballet normally tour to, in partnership with local venues.

Scottish Ballet will also be releasing their short film The Swan, drawing upon their production of Swan Lake. Choreographed by David Dawson and directed by Eve McConnachie, the film will focus on Act IV, highlighting the strong, graceful Odette and an all-female cast in a lake of light. The Swan will be broadcast online on Thu 19 Nov.

During the height of lockdown, many of us were able to keep happy and active through Scottish Ballet's SB Health programme, and now their team will be launching another six-week block of online classes, including Elevate and Time to Dance, which support those living with dementia and MS, as well as their popular Dance for Parkinson's Scotland, run in partnership with Dance Base. Scottish Ballet have also made available online their Health in Hand programme, a series of breath and movement resources which were initially developed for NHS staff and key workers.

Scottish Ballet will also be launching a brand new series of online adult and children's classes, catering to a variety of skill levels. Held over Zoom, participants can fine-tune their technique and stay active over the winter, with classes go on sale to Scottish Ballet members from Fri 23 October from 10am. And for those looking to become members, Scottish Ballet are now offering a free membership programme for those looking to take part in their digital offerings.

Christopher Hampson, the CEO and Artistic Director of Scottish Ballet, says of their winter programme: 'At Scottish Ballet, dance is our primary connector to each other and our communities, and we are committed to creating and developing work that continues to engage and inspire our audiences.

Whilst theatres remain closed, we have continued to pivot our creative energies towards digital output, allowing us to connect locally and engage globally. Our expertise and innovation within the digital field means we are excited to present new work that pushes the boundaries of production during these challenging times.

Dance is a medium that brings people together and now, more than ever, we need to connect with each other. By bringing new artistic and engagement work into people's homes this winter, we celebrate the benefits and importance of creativity in all its forms.'

For more information about Scottish Ballet's winter programme, head to scottishballet.co.uk