THE search is on for 100 Young ballet dancers for a professional ballet at Salisbury Civic Hall.

English Youth Ballet is auditioning for roles in an exciting Double Bill of Ballet on Tuesday November at the Salisbury Civic Hall.

At the audition male and female dancers (aged 8 – 18) from across the region will be offered the chance to rehearse with and then dance alongside international professional principal dancers in the production for three performances Salisbury Civic Hall April 21 – 22.

The Double Bill includes Nutcracker Suite and Ballet Études. Nutcracker Suite is Act II of one of the world’s most loved ballets. Ballet Études is a one-act homage to classical ballet training. It begins with traditional ballet exercises at the barre and ends with spectacular bravura displays. The orchestration contains beautiful arrangements of Carl Czerny’s piano studies.

Award-winning English Youth Ballet (EYB) is now in its 18th successful year and is one of the largest ballet companies in the UK. EYB is a national touring ballet company with Director - Janet Lewis MBE at its helm. Miss Lewis enjoyed an illustrious dancing career with the Royal Ballet Company and London Festival Ballet dancing alongside such greats as Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev.

EYB Director – Janet Lewis says: “The EYB audition is an experience in itself. EYB is all about performance experience and this starts at the audition as the dancers are given a regular ballet class on the stage. Parents and family are encouraged to watch from the audience. We are looking for young dancers of all abilities who can show the audience how much they enjoy their dancing."

The policy of EYB is to give professional performance experience to young dancers in beautiful venues close to where they live. The young dancers benefit from being coached and mentored by the professional dancers in an 11-day rehearsal period which takes place out of school hours.

Each audition will take the form of a regular ballet class. Dancers will find out on the day if they are successful. It is advisable to register for the audition in advance but it is possible to register on the day (please arrive 30 minutes early to register). The audition fee is £15.00 and all dancers participate in a full ballet class. Parents are invited to watch the audition.

For more information and to register for the audition please contact Miss Lewis. Tel: 01689 856747 or email misslewis@englishyouthballet.co.uk.