A YOUNG dancer from Staple Hill has been picked to work alongside professionals in a full-length production of classical ballet Coppélia.
Rae Fry, aged 10, will join a cast of 75 performers in the English Youth Ballet show at the Playhouse Theatre in Weston-Super-Mare.
Christ Church Junior School pupil Rae and Evie Jukes, also 10, of Willsbridge, both train at First Steps & Carly Elizabeth School of Dance, which holds sessions at Stanbridge Primary School, Frenchay Village Hall and Hawkesbury Upton Village Hall.
They were chosen after a competitive auditions process to join the cast, working with English Youth Ballet principal Ann Wall and other professionals in rehearsals ahead of performances on August 15 and 16.
Rae said: “I started dancing when I was three because I really wanted to be a ballerina.
“I love wearing all the pretty costumes and dancing on stage—it makes me really happy!
“At EYB, I’m excited to learn fun new dances and make lots of new friends.”
Evie said: “I started to dance when I was two years old, as I loved twirling around the living room. I feel happy and passionate when I’m dancing, and I love challenging myself to improve.
“The best thing about being a dancer is being able to express yourself on stage.
“I’m hoping to improve my ballet technique and to learn from the older dancers at EYB. I’m also looking forward to making new dance friends.”
Former English National Ballet and Ballet Cymru dancer Ann, who plays the lead role of Swanhilda in the production, said: “Teaching the young dancers is incredibly rewarding, as I get to see them learn new steps and grow in confidence.
“It is magical to see how they progress and blossom on stage and it brings me great joy to dance alongside them.
“In a sense, it feels like we all inspire each other. When I watch the children and young people dancing, it reminds me of why I dance, to bring joy, to feel joy and to connect through dance.”
Tickets for the production are available by calling 01743 281281 or at tinyurl.com/35pw3m7r.