English Youth Ballet to perform Cinderella in Shrewsbury
Young dancers will be taking to the stage at Theatre Severn this summer in the English Youth Ballet's production of Cinderella in Hollywood.
This tinsel town, 1950s adaptation of the classic story will be performed from June 22 to 23, and will include 83 young dancers from around the county.
This year also marks the 20th anniversary for English Youth Ballet (EYB).
Auditions for the ballet were held in March and dancers were told on the day if they were selected.
Janet Lewis, founder and director of EYB, said: "EYB is all about providing extra performance experience to young dancers.
"We saw a very pleasing standard at the auditions and it was lovely to see so much enthusiasm."
EYB worked with more than 800 young dancers last year, and has helped many of the UK's young talent springboard their training and careers into some of the world's leading ballet companies, including the Royal Ballet Company and the English National Ballet.
One of the young dancers lucky enough to perform, is 11-year-old Evie Beddoes, of Lawley.
"I started dancing about two years ago", she said.
"I started because my brothers did a lot of sport and mummy thought dancing would be good for me to do.
"It's going to be very exciting and in the future I would like to be a dance teacher and have my own dance school.
Joe Hargreaves, 12, of Condover, said: "I started dancing when I was seven years old.
"I'm looking forward to being on stage and part of the performance.
"I danced with EYB last time they came to Shrewsbury, in Swan Lake.
"I really like rehearsals and practicing because you can learn so much."
Rehearsals are taking place at Meole Brace School, and the cast members will have danced away 80 hours by the time they take to the stage in June.
More than 250 costumes, 50 pairs of pointe shoes, 60 pairs of soft ballet shoes and 30 pairs of character shoes will be needed for the production.
There will be eight principal dancers in the ballet, with the lead role of Cinderella being danced by Brazilian dancer, Samantha Camejo, who previously danced with the English National Ballet.
"The young dancers are treated just like professionals in the rehearsals with EYB", she said.
"They discover what having a dance career might be like, both in the studio and on the stage."
The young cast will rehearse over 11 days, where EYB will take over three of the biggest rooms at the school and run rehearsals simultaneously.
"It's an amazing experience for them", she added.
"I enjoy meeting all the talented young dancers up and down the UK.
"I try to mentor and inspire the young dancer and help inform them about the profession."
