Larkhall teen to star in the Nutcracker
A talented Larkhall ballet dancer is all set for her performance in a professional show next month.
Eilidh Copland has been selected by the English Youth Ballet (EYB) to perform in the Nutcracker in Newcastle.
The 15-year-old is busy in rehearsals and is looking forward to her performance at the Tyne Theatre and Opera House.
And the Larkhall Academy pupil will take to the stage on July 11 and 12.
The Nutcracker will star international principal dancers, and all the soloists and corps de battle roles in the production will be performed by 100 of the finest dancers aged between eight and 18.
Eilidh is delighted to be selected and said: “I feel very grateful and privileged to have been selected to be part of the Nutcracker, a ballet I love to watch and now get the chance to be part of, and it makes me smile whenever I think of it.
“Meeting lots of other dancers who love ballet as much as me, and being trained by such amazing professionals, is an honour.
“I would like to thank my ballet teacher Michelle, of Michelle Furley Stage and Ballet, for suggesting that I grasp this opportunity.
“It has been a real boost to my confidence, even though it means a lot of travel up and down to Newcastle every weekend for mum and dad, who have been very supportive of this, and all my dancing over the years.”
EYB held an audition for the production earlier in the year. Director and founder of EYB, Janet Lewis, was on the lookout for the hottest young dance talent to join her award-winning company for the production.
And the lucky dancers heard they had been accepted on the day.
Ms Lewis said:“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.”
EYB has helped many of the UK’S top talent with their training and progress their careers into some of the world’s greatest ballet companies – including the Royal Ballet, Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures and the English National Ballet.
Rehearsals for the ballet are currently taking place at the Walker Technology College.
Samantha Camejo is one of EYB’S principal dancers, and she previously danced with the La Scala Ballet Company and English National Ballet.
She coaches the young dancers in rehearsals and said: “The young dancers are treated like professional dancers during rehearsals – we work them hard but the results are fantastic.
“They learn what the professional dancer is like.
“They are living their dream and they just love it.”
The young cast will rehearse for 10 days for the production.
During those days EYB take over three of the biggest rooms in the school and run rehearsals simultaneously in each one.
At the end of each rehearsal day, the whole cast comes together in the largest space to share what they have learned.
Tickets for the performances are available from the box office on 0844 2491 000. life of a just