A STUDENT at Crediton’s Queen Elizabeth’s School will soon be fulfilling a long-held dream.

Ella Wholey (16), from Yeoford, will soon be taking to the stage as part of the cast of English Youth Ballet’s (EYB’s) “Nutcracker” at Torquay’s Princess Theatre on Friday, October 29 and Saturday, October 30.

The cast were devastated when their 2020 performances were cancelled due to the pandemic.  Luckily, the performances have been successfully rescheduled.

Ella and the rest of the cast are super excited, as they are finally getting the chance to perform alongside international professional dancers.

Ella explained: “I started ballet when I was four-years-old because my mum signed me up - but I ended up loving it and going every week.

“I love being able to express myself through dance and the feeling of performing on stage is incredible.

I really enjoy dancing alongside other dancers who are so passionate about ballet. I have already learned so much at EYB and I think it is so good to experience what it is like to dance with a professional company. 

“I dance with Katharine Mitchell School of Dance and also practise different styles other than ballet - like tap, jazz and modern. I hope to go to university and study dance to pursue a career as a professional dancer!”

Three performances of EYB’s acclaimed ballet “Nutcracker” will be staged at the Princess Theatre.

The glittering production will star international principal dancers and showcase the talents of 45 young dancers from the South West.

On Christmas Eve, Clara is given a nutcracker doll by Uncle Drosselmeyer. That night she dreams that the Nutcracker is transformed into a handsome prince and together they embark on an exciting adventure.

First, they defeat the seven-headed Rat King and his army before travelling through the Snow Forest.

Finally, they reach the glittering Kingdom of the Sweets where the Prince introduces Clara to the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Divertissements of spectacular dances, each representing a sweet is given in her honour.

The sweeping Sugar Plum pas de deux with the Prince brings the dream to a glorious close; Clara and audience will leave the Kingdom of the Sweets with Tchaikovsky’s famous score playing in their minds.

The cast were selected in a big virtual audition back in July 2020. The young dancers were sent a short audition class to learn and then film themselves performing. The videos were submitted to EYB to choose the 45-strong cast. There were more than 130 young hopeful dancers who prepared and sent videos and 45 dancers were selected from across the South West.

The cast rehearsed for in excess of 60 hours at Paignton Academy with EYB tutors.

Janet Lewis MBE (EYB Director), said: “The cast have shown great enthusiasm and excitement in their Nutcracker rehearsals. The children are obviously so pleased to be back dancing again and taking part in a ballet that they love.

“Since the past year of Lockdowns with the many restrictions, they are displaying a sense of freedom that is boosting their self-confidence and well-being. The cast are working hard not only on their ballet technique but on their performance quality that expresses the part they are dancing. The incentive is to be back performing again in the theatre.”

EYB previously won The Stage Award for special achievement in regional theatre. The opportunity to watch EYB is a unique experience. Sell-out audiences are treated to beautiful 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 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.

Tickets can be bought at the Box Office on 0333 009 6690 or at: www.atgtickets.com/torquay .