A YOUNG ballet dancer from Dudleston, near Ellesmere, is currently living her dream of being part of a professional production of Swan Lake.

At only nine years old, Arabella Wardle was selected to be a part of the English Youth Ballet’s (EYB’s) Swan Lake at the Stoke Regent Theatre, from Friday, September 23 to Saturday, September 24.

Earlier this year, she submitted a video recording of herself as part of the audition process, and later got the role of one of the Tsar's nieces and a Neapolitan dancer, alongside EYB Principal, Lyndsey Fraser.

Lyndsey, who will be starring as Odile in the production, said: "I love working as a principal dancer with EYB because I get to dance fantastic roles and teach and watch the young dancers progress.

"I wish I had danced with EYB when I was young, the dancers learn so much about performance skills and the artistry of ballet."

Arabella goes to Adcote School for Girls and is training at the Elegance Dance School, but now she is rehearsing at The Orme Academy, where she gets to experience the life of a professional dancer.

Whitchurch Herald: Lindsey Fraser and Adam Ashcroft in rehearsal

Lindsey Fraser and Adam Ashcroft in rehearsal.

The young cast will have rehearsed for 60 hours over 10 days of rehearsals at weekends, and they take over three large rehearsals spaces in the school, where they have to keep an eye on the complex timetable.

OTHER NEWS:

There will be 80 young dancers from the local area, alongside six international dancers, performing three of EYB's Swan Lake.

Janet Lewis MBE, EYB director, said: "The cast have shown great enthusiasm and excitement in their rehearsals so far.

"The children are obviously so pleased to be back dancing again and taking part in a ballet that they love

EYB is putting on an 'emotionally charged' production of Swan Lake set in 1895 Imperial Russia, that will tell the story of love, rivalry, greed and murder.

Lyndsey added: "The sets and costumes in the production are superb and the whole experience is one the young dancers (and the audiences) will never forget."