English Youth Ballet - The Sleeping Beauty

Young ballet dancers from across Norfolk have come together joined by the finest principal dancers to create a classical show like never before.

The English Youth Ballet Company travel across the UK to give young dancers a chance to perform with and learn from professionals to then perform at regional theatres. This weekend (Sat 26) The English Youth Ballet have brought together a cast of almost a 100 ballet students for The Sleeping Beauty. This well-known classical tale has been choreographed with such beauty and elegance, the much loved story feels new once more. In Act One, a celebration of the birth of Aurora (Olivia Trevelyan-richards) brings together multiple, colourful groups of dancers bringing gifts of charm, honesty, beauty and wisdom. The stage all the while is surrounded by a golden picture frame rightly portraying this play to be a work of art. The celebrations continued with breath-taking solos and young dancers in bright yellow leotards jumping around the stage bring warmth and joy to the show. This was partnered with the warm glow of the stage lighting brought together by Sebastian Petit who has previous designed lighting on the West End. Throughout the show, there wasn’t a face on the stage without a smile as the love for ballet and the performance shone through the young dancers. The Villian, Aunt Carabosse (Joshua Webb) soon arrived to take the smiles away; supported by monsters and a powerful swish of his arms they curse Aurora. After 16 years, the year now 1912, celebrations begin for Aurora’s birthday but for those of you who know the story, you know what’s to come. In Act 2, the now frozen palace is searched by Prince Alexander (José Alves) and Prince Stefan (Raphael East). The wonderful Aunt Lilac (Ann Wall) leads the princes through the palace with beauty and grace as if the music flowed through her. The climax of the play is a fight between good (Aunt Lilac) and evil (Aunt Carabosse) cleaverly portrayed with gold and silver staffs. The two battle it out accompanied by flashing lights and tense music risking Aurora’s life. Like all great ballets, good prevails and none other than a big celebration is needed to enjoy winning against evil and Aurora and the prince coming together. Guests arrive with various dance styles from Russian dance to cats to even Cinderella arriving to celebrate with the iconic glass slipper, cleverly dropped on entering the palace. High jumps and flawless lifts from the principal dancers bring the celebration to a fulfilling end. The stage is packed with warm coloured costumes of pink, red and orange along with gold glittery accessories, that make the show sparkle throughout with that theatre magic. Once again, the English Youth Ballet have created an enchanting show that will hopefully inspire the future principal ballet dancers.