A morality tale or flight of fancy? From Thursday 13 - Sunday 16 April 2023 London Children's Ballet presents the much loved story of Snow White. With a cast of 50 talented young dancers aged 9 - 16 this classic children's story is brought to life after months of rehearsals. There are many versions, known in different countries, of Snow White which was first formally authored by the Brothers Grimm in a collection of fairy stories published in Germany in 1812. Originally the seven characters were not so charming, forcing Snow White to wash, cook and clean for them. It was the Walt Disney film of 1937 that created the characters audiences have grown to love. All versions of Snow White relish the villain, the Evil Queen and her direct opposite, the vulnerable innocent Snow White who is banished to the forest as punishment for her own vanity perhaps? For the sake of drama and feeling the Evil Queen has her come-uppance whilst Snow White finds ultimate love in this 80-minute story ballet.
Gala Performance will take place at 5.30 pm on Saturday 15 April https://londonchildrensballet.formstack.com/forms/2023galaperformance Further performances run from:
Thursday 13 April at 7 pm
Friday 14 April at 1 pm and 7 pm
Saturday 15 April at 1.30 pm Sunday 16 April at 12.30 pm and 4.30 pm https://www.sadlerswells.com/whats-on/london-childrens-ballet-snow-white/ Ticket prices from £18 - £55
Artistic Director Ruth Brill has gathered a team of creative talents including the choreographer Gavin McCaig who trained at the Dance School of Scotland and English National Ballet School before joining Northern Ballet. In 2019 he created a short film for Northern Ballet’s Digital Platform, Silenced, which went on to win Best Dance Short at the New Renaissance Film Festival in London. In 2021, his first children’s ballet Pinocchio premiered for Northern Ballet in Leeds before a national tour. More recently, he choreographed a new narrative work for Images 2022 Assembly Line which toured to several venues including Lilian Baylis at Sadler’s Wells. Composer Richard Norris trained as a classical pianist at the Royal College of Music and joined Tring Park School for The Performing Arts in 2002. He spent two years in Japan where he became Director of Music at the A.I.S. Ballet School in Osaka, before returning to Tring in 2007, where he has worked ever since. Previous commissions with London Children’s Ballet include the first Snow White (2009) choreographed by Olivia Pickford, the 2016 revival with new choreography by Jenna Lee and the 2017 production of Little Lord Fauntleroy. Richard and Jenna continued their collaboration with “Puss In Boots” (2018) for Northern Ballet Theatre, which was televised on CBeebies. Since 2010, Richard has played five times for the RAD Genée (now Fonteyn) International Ballet Competition. The costume designer Sarah Godwin graduated in Costume Design from Wimbledon College of art in 2008. Since designing the costumes for the 2009 production of Snow White she has worked as a textile artist for film and TV. London Children's Ballet is a performance company that inspires the pursuit of excellence and changes lives through dance. A leader in creating original narrative work and introducing new audiences to ballet, the LCB creates a new West End ballet each year performed by talented dancers aged 9-16. Outreach work takes ballet into schools, care homes and special needs centres in and around London.
Founded by Lucille Briance in 1994 LCB is a charity that aims to inspire children from all backgrounds through dance, planting the seed of a long lasting passion that will enrich their lives. With her retirement after 25 years at the helm ex-English National Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet dancer and choreographer Ruth Brill became LCB's Artistic Director. Each year, a favourite children’s story is developed with an original scenario full of humour, drama and excitement to engage a family audience. LCB then commissions an emerging composer to write a ‘full-evening’ narrative score and a choreographer to set the ballet, also working with up-and-coming costume and set designers. LCB then stages this stunning new ballet performed over a week-long run to sell-out audiences in the West End’s Peacock Theatre.
The LCB Company is made up of highly talented young dancers aged 9-14 (boys 9-16). Up to 50 children join the company, through annual competitive auditions of over 600 applicants, held each October/November. The following 4-month rehearsal and performance experience is free of charge, which not only makes LCB unique but also means there is no barrier to talent – LCB dancers come from every economic, social and ethnic background, united by their passion for ballet. LCB does not only select children who are technically gifted; audition judges look for children who have that special appeal that makes a dancer beautiful to watch regardless of whether or not they have a perfect ballet body.
LCB dancers rehearse on Sunday afternoons from January to April, with an intensive period of daily rehearsals over February half term and the Easter holidays. In total, they receive over 100 hours of free, specialist ballet tuition and performance experience. London Children’s Ballet fundraises year-round to ensure that it is able to offer its unique opportunity to young dancers regardless of their circumstances. Demand for places has remained so high that a second branch of the company, LCB Tour was created in 2004 to increase the number of children able to participate and to broaden the outreach the organisation is able to achieve. Four times a year 48 additional LCB touring company dancers perform in residential homes, hospices, day centres and Special Educational Needs schools with a 30-minute tailored performance, taking ballet out into the community and ensuring an enriching experience for all involved. LCB also runs thriving programmes in the community throughout the year, touching the lives of over 3,000 disadvantaged children and elderly people with workshops and inspirational performances.
LCB alumni dancers include Anna Rose O'Sullivan Principal with the Royal Ballet, James Streeter First Soloist with English National Ballet and Charlotte Edmonds, now a choreographer. LCB’s working associates include choreographers Cathy Marston, Ruth Brill and Irek Mukhamedov and composers Artem Vasiliev and Ben Foskett.
'God bless the London Children's Ballet for making the dreams of our children come true' Marina Panganiban, mother of LCB dancer 'This is the only time our pupils would be able to meet ‘real ballet dancers’ and get to touch and feel such beautiful costumes…There were a number of children who seemed to engage with the emotion of the performance, particularly when ‘dramatic, scary’ music came on. A few were dancing in their seats!' Mandeville School 'Bravo to everyone who made Anne of Green Gables (2022) come to life. Simply lovely work: talented dancers, lucid choreography, atmospheric music and lighting, gorgeous sets and costumes. Continue like this and the LCB spirit will be influencing people for countless generations to come'. Georgina Butler, dance writer and teacher 'It was LCB that gave me the inspiration to pursue classical dance as a career.' Anna Rose O'Sullivan, Principal, Royal Ballet
Changing Lives Through Dance: Key Facts & Figures
20 choreographers and 11 composers have set their first full-length ballet for LCB
1,395 young dancers have received over 100 hours of free tuition and performed on stage with LCB
790 young dancers have performed as part of an LCB Touring Company
11,427 children from over 250 ballet schools have auditioned for LCB
35,905 disadvantaged children and isolated elderly people have seen an LCB production through our Ballet for £1 programme; for most this is their first experience of ballet
25% of all tickets to LCB performances are available to schools and charities for £1
432 outreach venues have hosted a performance by a LCB touring company, bringing the joy of dance and music to hospices, special needs schools, hospitals, day centres and residential nursing homes
LCB has created 16 original narrative ballet productions with new music and choreography
8,314 inner-city primary school children have participated in a free LCB ballet workshops
For further information please contact Anna Hickman Lewin at pr@hickmanandassociates.co.uk
