Year 6 student, Ariarne Roberts, had a professional start to her potential dance career recently, performing in Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, with the visiting Russian Ballet.
The performances were on 12-13 October at the Theatre Royal. Ariarne had been practising for about two months every Sunday.
Ariarne joined a 3-hour master class with Arcaeie Nazarenco from the ballet company about a month prior to the perfomance.
The experience itself was very thorough, including attending a full rehearsal and costuming on the day. Ariarne was a part of a group who performed in Act 1 for about 20 minutes. Her role was a young boy who was celebrating Christmas with Clara, the main character from the Nutcracker.
Over the two days the girls got to meet the ballerinas and get some inside tips on a dancing career. However some could only have conversations through an interpreter, as not all the Russians spoke English.
Ariarne was chosen to participate by Jo Hills who is the principal of Barbra Todd Ballet. Ariarne actually dances with Jenina's Dance Workshop, who undertake their technique ballet classes with Jo Hills.
Ariarne has been dancing since she was about three years old and also does jazz, tap, hip hop, lyrical and ballet. She loves all dancing whether normal classes, workshops, competitions or concerts.
Over the next two weeks she will be involved in two concerts with Jenina's Dance Workshop, Progressions ballet and lyrical concert, and JDW’s Elevate concert. She will also be taking her ballet exams, so a busy schedule.
Ariarne is looking forward to dancing with É«ÇéÖ±²¥ through elective dance subjects and has enjoyed participating in the co-curricular school dance program with Jenina Evans at lunch time Fridays.
Well done, Ariarne!