The talents of Lily (15), Tabitha (17), Lucy (10) and Sophie (12) from Wymondham took centre stage last month as they joined the prestigious English Youth Ballet (EYB) in its production of Sleeping Beauty. After competing in highly selective auditions in March, these dedicated young performers earned their place in the elite 100-strong cast, sharing the stage with internationally acclaimed professional dancers at the Norwich Theatre Royal.
This was an extraordinary opportunity for these young Wymondham dancers. They experienced firsthand what it means to be a professional dancer and took part in rigorous daily rehearsals, including intensive ballet training and coaching from industry professionals. Their journey is a testament to their dedication, discipline, and passion for dance, and they made the entire community proud.
I had the pleasure of speaking with Sophie Smith (12), who trains at Oakleigh Dance School. She said, “I started ballet when I was 5 years old until I was about 7 when my teacher retired. I went back to dancing when I was about 9, and I will be 13 soon. I am very shy, but when I dance, I find myself having more confidence. I can express myself with dance without needing to use my voice. I decided to audition for EYB because I wanted to see how it felt to perform on a big stage and see how it feels, to make my family proud and push myself to do knew things. I was interested in how a big show would be put together, to see and work with professional ballerinas and to wear some lovely costumes too.”
EYB Principal Ann Wall will play the role of Aurora, and spoke about the joy of working with such talented young dancers. “Being part of EYB is an amazing experience for any young dancer. I feel privileged to be a principal dancer with the company. I love teaching and coaching all the young dancers; I see some of the most talented young dancers in the country. I feel honoured to be a role model to the dancers and help give them an insight into the world of professional ballet. Dancing with EYB is an experience that will stay with the young dancers forever.”
This acclaimed production of Sleeping Beauty combined tradition with innovation. The ballet’s essence is good gloriously triumphing over evil. In Act 1, at Aurora’s Christening, the relatives present gifts to the baby, but it is interrupted by wicked Aunt Carabosse, who places a curse upon Aurora. To reverse the curse, the good Aunt Lilac places Aurora, her family and guests in the Palace Gardens in a cryogenic frozen state to sleep for one hundred years. The Cryonite Fairies protect her until she is awakened by her Prince. Upon his kiss, the curse is lifted, and Carabosse is defeated.
The English Youth Ballet, established in 1998, is renowned for its commitment to nurturing the next generation of dancers. Many former EYB performers have gone on to join world-renowned companies such as The Royal Ballet, and our local dancers are now following in those same inspiring footsteps.
This performance was a moment of immense pride for our community. We saw our own young talents perform alongside some of the best in the industry, and they more than did us proud.
