A group of young ballet dancers from our region are getting ready to take the stage in a production of Sleeping Beauty.
They will be among 100 dancers in the English Youth Ballet production, which will be at Norwich's Theatre Royal at the end of June
They were chosen from a field of more than 200 hopefuls who auditioned at the Sprowston Community High School in March.
One of the dancers, Betsy Looker, 10, from Long Stratton, said she was looking forward to taking part in the ballet.
Betsy, who goes to the village's St Mary's CE Junior School, has been dancing since she was just two years old.
She said: 'I started because I looked at it and I thought: I could do that.
'I love meeting more friends and doing competitions and having fun.
'I am looking forward to the performances with English Youth Ballet and being with my two friends. When I grow up I would like to be a professional dancer.'
Fellow dancer 14-year-old Mia Kruger, from Attleborough, will perform as one of the guests in the corps de ballet.
Mia said she had been dancing since she was six.
She said: 'I used to dance around the house and my dad thought I should do it somewhere else. I have danced with English Youth Ballet twice before. It is really rewarding – the whole experience.
'When I am older I am thinking about doing dance.'
English Youth Ballet's 'ballet mistress' Julianne Rice-Oxley said preparations for the show were going will.
She said: 'The young dancers are treated like professional dancers during rehearsals – we work them hard but the results are fantastic.
'They learn what the life of a professional dancer is like. They are living their dream and they just love it.'
Other dancers taking part include Abigail Lewis, 16, from Wicklewood, Kate Walsh, 15, from Attleborough, Eleanor Borrill, 14, from Hoxne, Amy Canning, 17, from Syleham, Katie Edwards, 14, from Botesdale, Charlotte Howard, 14, from Diss, Jasmine Kibble, nine, from Garboldisham, Isaac Looker, 10, from Long Stratton, Alice Vale, 10, from Long Stratton, and Alice Sharratt, 11, from Fressingfield.
Performances will take place at 7.30pm on June 24 and 2.30pm and 7.30pm on June 25.
For tickets call 01603 630000 or visit www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk
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