Youngsters' chance to perform

The award-winning English Youth Ballet returns to the Theatre Royal, Nottingham, giving 100 local ballet students a chance to perform on stage.

The group will present Coppelia on July 30 at 7.30pm and on July 31 at 2.30pm and 7.30pm.

The youngsters, selected for their talent and potential, will perform alongside some of the finest professional principal dancers from London and around the world.

Among those taking part in the production are Poppy Brewell, of St Martin’s Close, Stubton, who trains with the Welland School Of Dancing, Molly Baulcombe, of Long Acre, Bingham, of the Tracy Quaife Theatre And Dance School, and Jemma Knox, of Church Street, Bingham, from the Bingham School of Dance.

They were chosen from more than 100 youngsters after auditioning for the company.

The ballet follows the escapades of the dreamy Franz and how he comically falls in love with a beautiful, life-like doll.

The doll, Coppelia, is created by the eccentric, yet mysterious inventor, Dr Coppelius.

The plot thickens when Franz’s jealous lover, Swanhilda, takes her friends on an adventure into the spooky house of the mad inventor to confront her rival.

But the story ends happily when the truth is uncovered, and the whole town joins the most extravagant wedding celebration for the smitten Franz and Swanhilda.

The inventive choreography is faithful to the well-loved original version.

It has been created by Janet Lewis, English Youth Ballet’s artistic director, and her team.

The musical score was composed especially for the ballet in 1870 by Leo Delibes.

It features well-loved classics such as the stirring Act I Mazurka and the grand Waltz Of The Hours.