English Youth Ballet - Swan Lake

International principal dancers will lead an exciting cast of local young dancers selected for the dramatic production. English Youth Ballet (EYB)’s critically acclaimed adaptation weaves a tale of love, rivalry, greed and murder. Now in it’s 28th phenomenal year - EYB is one of the UK’s largest ballet companies and previously won The Stage Award for special achievement in regional theatre.

The opportunity to watch the company is a unique experience. Sell-out audiences are treated to stunning international principal artists sharing the stage with the top up-and-coming young talent from the local area. EYB’s large cast ensures the ballet is performed with the scale and grandeur which was originally intended.

EYB’s emotionally charged production of Swan Lake is set in 1895 Imperial Russia. The action takes place in the Mariinsky Theatre - where the Mariinsky Ballet are preparing for a production of Swan Lake - and the sumptuous Royal Palace of the Tsar. Two unlikely lovers meet Odette, a dancer with the Mariinsky Ballet and Prince Sergei, son to the Tsar. The Tsar must ensure that Prince Sergei does not marry beneath his station. Equally, the tyrannical Baron Von Rothbart would do anything to secure a royal patronage for his ballet company. He would even manipulate his own daughter – Odile – to compete for the affections of the Prince.

The choreography is adapted from Marius Petipa’s exquisite original. The adaptation has been created by Director Miss Janet Lewis and her team of international principal artists who coach the young dancers. Much of Tchaikowsky’s beautiful orchestral score to the ballet will be instantly recognized. The stage designs for the ballet are by Sebastian Petit and the costume designs are by Keith Bish.

EYB principal dancers are of the highest calibre and have joined EYB from companies such as Santiago Ballet, Ballet Capitole du Toulouse, English National Ballet and Ballet Cymru. The young dancers are some of the top talents from the local area. There are now ex-EYB young performers in some of the world’s best companies – including the Royal Ballet.