THE DREAMS of eight of the region's top young dancers have come true after they were selected to perform in the English Youth Ballet's production of Sleeping Beauty.
Claire Singleton, Grace Neary, Emma Gazard, Emma Smith, Olivia Schurer, Orla Payne, Leah Maxwell and Rebecca Izzard will appear for three performances from August 24-25, along English Youth Ballet's international principal artists in a professional production.
The young dancers were selected at an audition in January from more than 200 young hopefuls and were then part of a ten day intensive rehearsal process.
Company Manager, Ben Garner, says: "Working with English Youth Ballet will be one of the highlights of these talented young dancer’s careers, to date. The audiences watching EYB are in for a unique and exciting experience too. They will be seeing both top international principal artists and the best up-and-coming young talent from their region - sharing the stage."
Leah Maxwell from Woodburn Green is 13 years old and will be playing one of Aurora’s Friends in the production, as will Emma Smith, 15, and Rebecca Izzard, 15, who are both at Wycombe High School. Emma attends London Senior Ballet on a Saturday and sdances with Overton School of Dance in Hazlemere and with Stage Plus School of Performing Arts in Princes Risborough. Leah goes to The Beaconsfield School and is studying dance at Baylins Ballet Barn.
Mayor of Aylesbury, Cllr Takodra, MBE, and staff from Stoke Mandeville's Hospital Children's Ward 3 will be in attendance on the opening night tonight and funds at each performance will be raised for the ward.
Australian principal artists Amy Drew and Brenden Bratulic will be making their debut in the leading roles in the ballet. In Aylesbury, for the first time, Amy will be dancing the role of Aurora and Brenden will be dancing Prince Alexander. Brenden and Amy also did a workshop at Children’s Ward 3 where they delighted and inspired many of the young patients including Jinelle Gough.
Tickets are £19.50. Friday at 7.30pm and Saturday at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. For tickets call: 0844 871 7627 or visit: www.atgtickets.com/aylesbury
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