TWO young ballerinas from the Bromsgrove area have been selected to perform as part of a professional production of Swan Lake with the English Youth Ballet.

10-year-old Libby Merchant from Rednall, and 15-year-old Josie Wiklund from Alvechurch, are both rehearsing for the production at the Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury next month.

The ballet is starring international principal dancers Amy Drew, Adele Robbins, Monica Tapiador, Richard Read, Brenden Bratulic, Trevor Wood and Steven Wheeler, with all the soloist and corps de ballet roles in the production performed by 98 of the finest eight to 18-year-old dancers from the surrounding area.

Nearly 200 young hopeful dancers turned up to two huge auditions held in March for the ballet.

Director and founder of English Youth Ballet, Janet Lewis MBE, said: “EYB is all about providing extra performance experience to young dancers. It was lovely to see lots of enthusiasm.”

While the principal dancers are already in full-time rehearsals, the young members of the cast will rehearse for just 10 days for the production.

Principal dancer Oliver Speers, said “The young dancers are treated like professional dancers during rehearsals – we work them hard but the results are fantastic. They learn what the life of a professional dancer is like. They are living their dream and they just love it.”

Principal dancer Amy Drew, added: “Rehearsals for Swan Lake are going very well in Shrewsbury and I am really enjoying getting to know the young dancers. It is wonderful having such keen young dancers all in the same place and working together. I think that there is a unique and wonderful synergy that takes place because all the dancers learn so much from watching each other and from watching the professionals too. Our production of Swan Lake is such a dramatic ballet and I think that the young dancers really enjoy telling the story as it is very powerful and gripping."

The English Youth Ballet’s Swan Lake will be at the Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury from July 10 – 11. Tickets can be purchased via the theatre’s website at theatresevern.co.uk.