Sleeping Beauty - Regent Theatre, Stoke on Trent Fri 12 - Sat 13 April 2024.

There will be 3 performances of EYB's acclaimed ballet - Sleeping Beauty. The lavish production will star 6 international principal dancers and showcase the talents of 90 young dancers from the local area.

English Youth Ballet's Sleeping Beauty production is sumptuous, promising tradition alongside innovation.

The ballet's essence is good gloriously triumphant over evil.

Tickets can be bought at the Box Office and at www.atgtickets.com/regent-theatre

The 90-strong cast of young dancers were selected in a big audition on stage at the Regent Theatre on 10 January. Over 150 young dancers attended for the exciting opportunity. They all took part in a full ballet class on the stage. The successful auditionees found they had been selected on the day of the audition.

The young cast are rehearsing for 60 hours over 10 days of rehearsals at weekends. The rehearsals take place at a local high school. At rehearsals, the dancers experience the working life of a professional dancer.

EYB take over 3 large rehearsal spaces in the school that are used simultaneously. Rehearsals always start with 3 company classes for the dancers to warm-up. The dancers need to keep an eye on the complex rehearsal timetable throughout the day.

Quote from Janet Lewis OBE (EYB Director)

"English Youth Ballet's aim is to provide performance experience to aspiring young dancers in beautiful venues close to where they live. The young dancers get to experience what life is like in a professional ballet company. They learn about developing their artistic and performance skills as well as improving their technique. I am always amazed at how quickly the young dancers progress and how positive they are when presented with new challenges.

Award-winning English Youth Ballet

EYB previously won The Stage Award for special achievement in regional theatre. The opportunity to watch EYB is a unique experience. Sellout audiences are treated to beautiful international principal artists sharingthe 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 principal dancers are of the highest calibre and have joined EYB from companies such as English National Ballet, Northern Ballet and K-Ballet. 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.