Young Chiswick Ballet Dancer Heads For Stardom

Sophie West will appear in The Nutcracker in Wimbledon

Chiswick ballet dancer Sophie West (13) is set for stardom after being selected to appear in a production of The Nutcracker with English Youth Ballet.

Sophie, who will dance the role as a Sugar Plum Fairy Attendant, was selected at an audition last June from over 250 young hopefuls.

The ballet will be performed at the New Wimbledon Theatre for three performances from 8-9 November.

Sophie attends Arts Education School and trains at The Dance School.

All the young dancers in the cast will dance alongside EYB’s international principal artists in a production giving them the opportunity to see what life is like as a professional ballet dancer.   The company is one of the largest in the UK and is made up of 7 professional principals and over 100 local dancers (aged 8–18) from the local area

Currently the young cast are working with the EYB’s principal dancers at Rutlish School, Wimbledon, in a 10-day intensive rehearsal process.  British principal ballerina, Julianne Rice Oxley speaks very highly of the standard of the young dancers: “The young dancers we are working with in Wimbedon have good technique and great energy.  Working in a professional environment gives the students a unique insight into life in a ballet company.  

"Sophie is so lucky – I wish there had been something like EYB when I was training!  I love my job!  I ­feel very privileged to be a principal with EYB as I get to work with some of the UK’s most talented young dancers.  I find them incredibly inspiring!”

EYB Principal Dancers for the performance will be Julianne Rice and Oli Speers Oxley. 

For tickets call: 0844 871 7646 or visit: www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-wimbledon-theatre

October 25, 2013