TALENTED ballet dancers feel 'super excited' to perform to a packed audience at the Wycombe Swan next month.
The 13 dancers from High Wycombe, Marlow and Gerrards Cross are members of The English Youth Ballet (EYB), where they will be performing in a rendition of the Nutcracker.
The young dancers will get to perform alongside international professional dancers from Tuesday, November 1 until November 2.
Lyndsey Fraser will be starring as the Sugar Plum Fairy in the production. Before joining EYB she danced with the Vienna Festival Ballet.
She said: “I wish I had danced with EYB when I was young. The dancers learn so much about performance skills and the artistry of ballet.
"I love working as a principal dancer with EYB because I get to dance fantastic roles and teach and watch the young dancers progress. The sets and costumes in the production are superb and the whole experience is one the young dancers (and the audiences) will never forget!”
The cast were selected in big virtual audition back in July this year. The young dancers were sent a short audition class to learn and then film themselves performing.
The videos were submitted to EYB to choose the 65-strong cast. There were over 130 young hopeful dancers who prepared and sent videos.
Janet Lewis MBE (EYB Director), said: "The cast have shown great enthusiasm and excitement in their Nutcracker rehearsals. The children are obviously so pleased to be back dancing again and taking part in a ballet that they love.
"Since the past year of Lockdowns with the many restrictions, they are displaying a sense of freedom that is boosting their self-confidence and wellbeing. The cast are working hard not only on their ballet technique but on their performance quality that expresses the part they are dancing. The incentive is to be back performing again in the theatre.”
The Nutcracker is a Russian ballet production about Clara, who is given a nutcracker doll by Uncle Drosselmeyer on Christmas eve.
That night she dreams that the Nutcracker is transformed into a handsome prince and together they embark on an exciting adventure.
First, they defeat the seven-headed Rat King and his army before traveling through the Snow Forest.
Finally, they reach the glittering Kingdom of the Sweets where the Prince introduces Clara to the Sugar Plum Fairy.
Divertissements of spectacular dances, each representing a sweet is given in her honour. The sweeping Sugar Plum pas de deux with the Prince brings the dream to a glorious close; Clara and audience will leave the Kingdom of the Sweets with Tchaikovsky’s famous score playing in their minds.
There are 65 young dancers from across the Bucks and Hertfordshire in the production with rehearsals taking place at Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School in Marlow.
Syd Rackard said: “I started dancing by chance when I was 8 years old. I originally just wanted to learn acro as I really liked gymnastics, but the dance school said I had to learn a core dance as well, so I chose ballet. I tried out ballet and really enjoyed it, and have loved it ever since.
"I really love performing on stage, and at the end when the audience claps, that's a lovely feeling, and I really love it when the audience reacts. I love doing leaps, jumps and turns as it requires energy, and I have lots of it!"
Tickets can be bought at the Box Office on 0343 310 0060 or at www.wycombeswan.co.uk
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here