BALLET stars of the future will make their big stage debut in a sensational production of The Sleeping Beauty at The Playhouse Theatre, Weston.

Talented dancers Aisha Bellamy,16, Emma Hounslow, ten, and Hannah Johnson,12, from Taunton, will dance with international principal artists from the English Youth Ballet (EYB), one of the UK’s largest ballet
companies.

Aisha, who fits nine weekly dance lessons around school said: “I am happy I have been selected for English Youth Ballet, it will be a real experience for me.”

Aisha has been dancing since she was three and recently produced her own show in aid of an orphanage in India raising £1,300.

The three girls gained their places at an audition last November, which was attended by over 150 of the region’s most talented young dancers.

They are now in the middle of an intensive ten day rehearsal programme.
Principal ballerina, Amy Drew, who is playing the lead in the show, said the young Somerset dancers have ‘great energy and attack’.

The production, which is running from March 8 to 9, has been updated from the original and is set in the year 1896.

When Aurora pricks her finger on her sixteenth birthday she is cursed to die by the wicked fairy – Carabosse.

Unable to undo the curse the good Lilac Fairy puts Aurora and her family into a cryogenic sleep and takes Aurora to the Artic where she will be awoken in the year 2012 by a royal explorer.

There will be three performances at 7.30pm on Friday March 8 and Saturday March 9 as well as a matinee at 2.30pm on the Saturday.

Tickets cost £19.50. Call 01934-645544 or visit: www.theplayhouse.co.uk