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Headshot of male dancer in black t-shirt

Gavin McCaig

Dancers

Junior Soloist

Gavin is from Motherwell and moved to Glasgow at the age of 12 to start his vocational training at The Dance School of Scotland. Four years later he received a scholarship to study at English National Ballet School, also working part-time with the Dance School at the Royal Academy of Dance. Gavin joined Northern Ballet in 2014 and retired from dancing in 2023.

Learn more about Gavin

Where were you born and raised?

Motherwell, Scotland.

At what age did you start dancing?

I began tap, jazz and hip-hop classes when I was seven years old.

Where did you train?

I began my vocational training at The Dance School of Scotland in Glasgow, followed by three years at English National Ballet School.

Gavin McCaig holds Nina Queiroz da Silva's feet as Adam Ashcroft holds her aloft with his feet
Gavin McCaig and Abigail Prudames rehearse Jane Eyre. Photo Justin Slee
Gavin McCaig, Abigail Prudames, Pippa Moore and Riku Ito in Victoria. Photo Emma Kauldhar

Previous companies

I toured with Scottish Ballet in Christopher Hampson's Hansel & Gretel in my graduate year at English National Ballet School.

Favourite Northern Ballet roles

John Brown (Victoria), Athos (The Three Musketeers), Acolytes (Romeo and Juliet) and St. John (Jane Eyre).

Which Northern Ballet roles would you most like to dance?

Simon in David Nixon OBE's Swan Lake.

Career highlights

Being commissioned to create a short film for Northern Ballet's Digital Dance platform which went on to win Best Dance Short at the New Renaissance Film Festival in London.

What do you like most about being a dancer?

Being surrounded by so many inspiring and driven human beings. It's a real privilege and there's always so much to learn from them.

How do you like to relax?

Travelling and exploring new places, or sitting with a large glass of wine in my garden watching the sunset.

If you weren’t a dancer what would you be?

I'd love to be running a big arts organisation, driving social change and introducing new generations to dance and art.

Gavin is sponsored by The Sterry Family Foundation.

Header image by Justin Slee. Other photos by Emma Kauldhar and Justin Slee.