The English Youth Ballet is a yearly production that is performed by dancers aged 8 to 18 in local theatres. It is made up of a core of professional principal dancers, and up to 100 youth dancers. We spoke to Nyree Barnes, year 11, who is performing in this year’s ballet, Sleeping Beauty.
NK: So, you’re performing in the English Youth Ballet. How did you first end up hearing about it?
NB: I went to see their Nutcracker last December and was given a leaflet. Inside, I saw their advertisement for the auditions and that it was being done at the Gordon Craig in Stevenage. I was interested, so I auditioned for it.
NK: How long ago did you audition for it? And what was the audition process like?
NB: I auditioned for it in June this year, and it was in the Gordon Craig. There were about 60 of us on the stage, and a man at the front was basically telling us what to do and we just did that in our lines whi le we were observed. Out of my audition 40 made it, but there was also a younge r audition for people aged 8 to 12
NK: How long have you been dancing for?
NB: I’ve been doing ballet since I was about 3 or 4, and I’ve been on pointe for a little over a year now. I do ballet, modern and tap and I also teach children aged 3 to 10 in up to grade 1 ballet.
NK: What do you enjoy more, teaching or dancing?
NB: Dancing, because I enjoy performing. That’s the best bit.
NK: How did you feel when you found out that you’d got in?
NB: I was really happy because I really wanted to get in and I was quite relieved because during the audition I was very nervous. So knowing I’d got in was great.
NK: So when do you start rehearsals?
NB: We’ve already had some rehearsals, at the very start of September. From then on we have rehearsals every weekend, right up until the performance in October.
NK: How often do you usually practice a week?
NB: Usually I do... about four times a week? But with extra rehearsals I’m doing it almost every day. I do lessons but I also practice outside of them.
NK: Do you have a favourite ballet?
NB: Yeah, I really like the nutcracker. I love the dancing but I also really love the music to it. Sleeping Beauty is being performed on October 15th - 17th at the Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage.