Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Ballet dancers visit hospital
A children’s hospital ward was transformed into a ballet stage when the stars of Swan Lake arrived to put on a show. Cast members of the English Youth Ballet visited the assessment centre at Kent and Canterbury Hospital to give the young patients a treat – and even a chance to dance with them. As well as a workshop and an insight into the daily life of a professional dancer, they presented a costumed rehearsal. The company is performing Swan Lake at the Marlowe tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday, but three of the principal dancers, including EYB leading ballerina Julianne Rice-Oxley, and four of the young cast – Esme Bacalla-Hayes, 15, Emily Daws, 15, Saffron Shaw, 15, and Laura Cook,12, entertained the children and their families and the staff with a special preview. After the performance, principal artists Amy Drew and Oliver Speers delighted their audience by appearing in costume with the young dancers to present the pas de six from Act I of the production. There was also a thrill for seven-year-old Celia Balfour, from Harbledown, who was the first to put up her hand when the children were asked if they would like to dance with the ballet stars. She squealed with delight at having the chance to dance with Oliver and said: “It was really fun – I liked being lifted up.” Ward sister Tracey Bond said: “The workshop was lovely – the children were entranced by the music and the dancing.” Now patients, their families and staff have been invited to the full dress rehearsal of Swan Lake at the theatre. Funds will be donated from the performances of Swan Lake towards a new high-dependency monitor for the assessment centre.