Milton Keynes dancers will perform with English Youth Ballet

The Youth Ballet held an audition last year, where almost 200 young dancers turned up hoping for a chance to dance in the Double Bill of Nutcracker Suite & Ballet Études at the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre this weekend.

The dancers from MK, aged between eight and 18, made the grade and willperform this weekend.

Lily Aitken, 10, Gennaro Calleia, eight, Holly Chandler, 18, Alfie Ewens, eight, and Anna-Maria Winckless, 11, are now readying for the show on March 24 and 25.

Director and founder Janet Lewis MBE said: “The company is especially excited about presenting our newest ballet - Ballet Études in Aylesbury this weekend.

“EYB is all about providing extra performance experience to young dancers. We saw a very pleasing standard at the audition today and it was lovely to see lots of enthusiasm.”

Oliver Speers is one of EYB’s principal dancers – he previously danced with the Royal Ballet Company and Ballet Capitole du Toulouse, coaches the young dancers in rehearsals.

He said: “The young dancers are treated like professional dancers during rehearsals – we work them hard but the results are fantastic.

“They learn what the life of a professional dancer is like. They are living their dream and they just love it.”

The young local cast, from St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Monkston Primary and Brooklands Farm Primary have had just 10 days to rehearse.