TWO talented young dancers from Farnham have been chosen to perform in English Youth Ballet’s (EYB) latest production of Swan Lake at the Hawth Theatre in Crawley this weekend.

Hayden Davey, eight, and Fred Gillman, 11, are currently keeping busy in rehearsals alongside international principal dancers Amy Drew, Adele Robbins, Monica Tapiador, Richard Read, Brenden Bratulic, Trevor Wood and Steven Wheeler.

EYB’s acclaimed production of Swan Lake is set in 1895 Imperial Russia and tells of love, rivalry, greed and murder. The action takes place in the Mariinsky Theatre – where the Mariinsky Ballet is preparing for a production of Swan Lake at the sumptuous Royal Palace of the Tsar.

Two unlikely lovers meet - Odette, a dancer with the Mariinsky Ballet, and Prince Sergei, son of the Tsar. The Tsar must ensure that Prince Sergei does not marry beneath his station.

Equally, the tyrannical Baron Von Rothbart would do anything to secure a royal patronage for his ballet company. He would even manipulate his own daughter – Odile – to compete for the affections of the prince.

EYB held a huge audition for the ballet at The Hawth in July and nearly 300 young hopeful dancers turned up to the two auditions which were held on the stage.

The atmosphere at the theatre, the nerves and the excitement were all electric, with director and founder of EYB, Janet Lewis MBE, on the lookout for the hottest young dance talent to join her award-winning company for the production in Crawley.

The lucky dancers heard they had been accepted on the day. Janet said “EYB is all about providing extra performance experience to young dancers. We saw a very pleasing standard at the audition and it was lovely to see lots of enthusiasm.”

All the soloist and corps de ballet roles in the production will be performed by 100 of the finest dancers (aged eight to 18) from the surrounding areas.

Tickets for the performance, taking place on Friday, November 25, (7.30pm) and Saturday, November 26, (2.30pm and 7.30pm), can be purchased at the box office on 01293 553636 or online at www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk/The-Hawth.