Pupils set to to perform in national ballet

Pupils from a primary school in Doncaster have been given an opportunity to perform on stage with a professional touring ballet company.

For every tour date of their production of Snow White: The Sacrifice, BalletLORENT have picked a local school to rehearse with their dancers and join them on stage.

Ten children from Bentley New Village Primary have been chosen to perform with the group for two performances at Doncaster's Cast theatre.

John Kendall, who plays the Hunstman in the production, says the ballet company are keen to secure stage novices: "We won't go to schools or dance schools where kids go to the theatre often. We believe the arts are for everyone, for all breadths of society."

The primary school in Bentley - chosen because of its location in a poorer area of Doncaster - is the sixth, and final, school selected to take part in the show, with the production bringing its current run to a close with two performances in Doncaster this Friday and Saturday.

But, despite the pupils' lack of acting experience, Mr Kendall said the young participants are subject to the same demanding schedule as "professional actors".

He added: " We go into school and audition them, and then have just two days of rehearsals before we're on stage"

"It's all about giving children an opportunity to be themselves and fulfil their full potential"

"Art isn't just for high society, it should be for everyone," he said.

BalletLORENT was founded by Liv Lorent (MBE) in 1993, and has toured works nationally and internationally to considerable acclaim.

More than 650 children from inner-city schools have performed with the company on stage since 2012.

The current production of Snow White, written by award-winning poet Carol Ann Duffy, will see the Bentley pupils feature in key scenes, both at the King's funeral and, later, as woodland creatures in the forest.

Ahead of the first performance on Friday, the pupils - who are all aged between 7 and 9 years old - will have had just three rehearsals, including a full dress rehearsal.

Jeddy, 8, described the process as "quite tough".

"It was hard, because of all the moves we do on our hands and feet, but it's really exciting because I've never done it before," he said.

Logan, aged 7, is the youngest pupil selected across the entire tour. He admitted to feeling nervous.

"I did find it hard because I was so small, but I'm also really excited," he said.

Mum Mariam said she is feeling "excited and proud" for her daughter, eight-year-old Ganeyat.

"I'm so happy for my girl. She loves to dance, she likes to watch it on TV - and she practices it all the time.

"I can't believe I get to watch her on this stage!"

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