The Snow Queen

To conclude a delightful half term of private lessons, learning the advanced 1 syllabus under the meticulous tutelage of my amazing teacher Miss Kaye, I was eager to see the opening night of Ballet Theatre UK's "The Snow Queen".

I remembered seeing the company dance Snow Queen back in 2011- as a young dancer just starting out on my journey of learning ballet, I was delighted to be allowed backstage after the show, where I met Natalie Cawte and Kazuka Oike; I still have the programme that they signed for me. I knew that the company had changed somewhat since I saw them dance Swan Lake last year- Natalie, Jessica and Julia had moved on to other work- so I was eager to see how the new dancers had helped the company to evolve. Nonetheless, it was also pleasing to see familiar faces again- Clair Corrubble made an imposing Snow Queen, her effortless command of the stage and stunning facial expressions reminded me of how she dazzled as Odile in Swan Lake. 

Gerda was danced in a captivatingly playful manner by Sarah Mortimer, whose clean technique and excellent artistry made her a joy to watch.

In Act 1, the Peasant Pas de Trois was danced by Grace Carr, Emma Miller and Robert Noble- seeing it brought back fond memories of learning the solos at BTUK's summer school in 2014! Grace, a Central graduate making her debut with the company, demonstrated neat footwork and pleasant artistry, although seemed a little nervous at times. 

In Act 2, Charlotte Eades shone as a Flower Soloist, her elegant upper body and ports de bras complimenting her excellent artistry and innate musicality. She later showed a more comedic style as the mischievous Princess, working well alongside David Brewer, who likewise demonstrated stellar technical ability but also fabulous characterisation and personality. 

The costumes sparkled glamorously, ranging from Sleeping Beauty fairy-esque tutus for the Flowers, to ragged Gypsy dresses; the relatively simple yet effective set design and staging gave the ballet a definite sense of professionalism. 

There were many young children in the audience, all of whom seemed captivated by the delightful choreography and easy to understand storyline- Ballet Theatre UK are definitely succeeding in inspiring the next generation of young dancers, and I am looking forward to seeing their premiere of "Pinocchio" early next year!