What’s On For Children –
My First Ballet: Swan Lake at the Opera House Manchester
| 7th April 2018
On 28 and 29 April, little Mancunians will be able to enjoy a special production of the classic Swan Lake brought to them by English National Ballet as part of their My First Ballet series.
My First Ballet: Swan Lake, an hour-long performance especially designed for children age three and up, will be performed at the Opera House in Manchester by students of the English National Ballet School. With a narrator helping the young audience to understand the story, it is a good introduction to ballet for little ones who are not yet old enough to keep up with a long performance.
The story takes a slightly different approach to the original, making it more accessible and positive for children. Choreographer Antonio Castilla, English National Ballet’s Ballet Master and Repetiteur, explains that this version explores themes such as friendship, forgiveness and honesty. The music, a shortened version of Tchaikovsky’s original, completes the experience with its famous tunes recognisable by all.
Chloe Keneally as Odette – the White Swan. Photo Laurent Liotardo
Since the series started in 2012, over 250,000 people have watched My First Ballet performances, including adaptations of Cinderella, Coppelia and Sleeping Beauty. While it is a good opportunity for the students of the English National Ballet School to perform on stage, it is also a way to educate and inspire tomorrow’s audience.
Principal Dancer and Artistic Director of English National Ballet, Tamara Rojo, said: “Our My First Ballet series is a brilliant way of introducing new audiences to the joy of ballet. It allows us to present popular ballets in which the narrative, choreography and music are condensed, but the ballet itself is not compromised.”
Alongside the performances, a workshop (already sold out in Manchester) will allow children and parents alike to discover the world of ballet, by learning little extracts and seeing the stage up-close.
My First Ballet: Swan Lake runs on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 April for five day-time performances at the Manchester Opera House:
Saturday 28th – 11.00am / 2.00pm / 5.00pm
Sunday 29th – 11.00am / 3.00pm
Tickets start at £11.40 for children and £13.40 for adults, on sale here.
Box office: 0844 871 3018
For more information visit the English National Ballet website.