Ballet goes like dream for its young dancers

All 250 pupils attending Chippenham's Classical Ballet Centre took part in the two-hour programme, beginning with the narrative ballet and concluding with modern dance.

Girls aged between three and 19 played the parts of wasps, butterflies, gnomes and fairies in the ballet, based on the play by Shakespeare, choreographed and set to music by principal Kazia Rudewicz.

Her mother Ralda Rudewicz took on the task of designing and making masks, wings and costumes for the entire cast.

The modern dance sequences were choreographed by Miss Rudewicz, teacher Deborah Curtis and the students themselves.

The production was the first public show by the Classical Ballet Centre, based at the Sheldon School dance studio, for eight years.

Rehearsals began after Easter, with the girls learning their parts in class before assembling the production on stage in the Neeld Hall last week.

Miss Rudewicz commended the children for their hard work and patience during long and tiring rehearsals.

"They were very positive - even the three year olds. No one cried at all," she said.

Chippenham Hi Lights helped set up the stage and Ian Guy, of Chippenham Stage Lighting, provided atmospheric visual effects.

The programme was designed by students in a drawing competition organised through the ballet school.

Although few of the youngsters are likely to take up ballet as a profession Miss Rudewicz was confident the production would be of lasting benefit for the young performers.

"This is giving them the chance to perform," she said.

"Some will leave the school and some will carry on, but they will have had this experience."

She welcomed the show as an opportunity for the wider public to see the work undertaken by the school and the efforts of the children.

"In the ballet school we have to get an even mix of technical exam work with the more creative side of performing," she said.