Two talented dancers from a Sarisbury dance school have been selected to perform on stage with the English Youth Ballet.
Tamzin Ellis, 12, from Warsash and Sophie Lee, nine, from Park Gate, will be performing Swan Lake this weekend (October 18 and 19).
Sophie Lee and Tamzin Ellis to perform with the English Youth Ballet
They have practised their talent at Laura Dunkley’s School of Dance and Performing Arts at the Sarisbury Green Parish Rooms and will show their skills in Swan Lake at The Kings Theatre in Southsea.
Tamzin performed alongside the national ballet school two years ago in The Nutcracker and has aims to join the English National Ballet in London or Tring Park performing arts school in Hertfordshire – where she undertook a one week residential programme last year.
“I’m really looking forward to the show,” said the Brookfield School pupil. “I like showing my family because they don’t normally see me dance except for the shows I do.
“I’d like to grow up to become a ballet dancer but I’d like to do other dances too. Ballet is probably my favourite. It’s quite hard and technical.”
Before the show they have been undertaking intensive rehearsals at The King Richard School in Portsmouth with the English National Ballet’s principal dancers.
Talented Sophie, who has been dancing for five years, had previously auditioned for the Royal Ballet School.
Although the Locks Heath Junior pupil did not make it into the school, she is determined to make it in the industry one day and enjoys performing in shows such as Swan Lake.
She added: “I’m quite relieved I’m not the only one and I’m happy to be in the show. I’m excited.
“The audition was quite scary. The rehearsals are really tiring. We’ve been doing lots of steps from different grades.
“Until the show I’m going to be practising and trying not to fidget because sometimes I fidget.
“When I’m older I’d quite like to go to some other ballet school to improve what I’ve already learned. I’d like to go to a popular ballet school.”
Laura Dunkley said: “I’m very proud. A lot of the girls did go to the audition. It was a first time for many of them and those who didn’t get in found the audition great experience. Many of them are going to watch and support them.”