Lincolnshire Youth Ballet (LYB) is a prestigious ballet company based in Stamford, Lincolnshire. Established in 2020, LYB aims to showcase the exceptional local talent in the region. Led by experienced ballet instructors, Miss Henri Tatton and Miss Maggie Purr, LYB consists of approximately 50 dancers, divided into 25 senior and 25 junior members.
The journey begins for LYB dancers on the first Saturday of the summer holidays, where they gather at the Welland School of Dancing studios in Stamford to meet their fellow dancers and instructors. Over the next three weeks, the students engage in an intensive training and rehearsal period, preparing for the annual production.
During the rehearsal period, students attend daily sessions from Monday to Friday, starting at 10:00 am and concluding at 3:00 pm. Each day begins with a ballet class, followed by smaller group rehearsals. By the end of the first week, students are assigned specific roles within the production.
LYB presents a classic ballet production each year, choosing from renowned works such as Swan Lake, Copplia, Giselle, and Sleeping Beauty. In 2021, LYB delighted audiences with their inaugural production of Cinderella. Sleeping Beauty followed in August 2022, and the latest production in August 2023 was A Midsummer Night's Dream. The upcoming production for 2024 will be Alice in Wonderland.
The culmination of the intense training and rehearsals is two performances at the Stamford Corn Exchange Theatre, held on the final Saturday of the three-week period. LYB strives to showcase the incredible talent of its dedicated dancers in both a matinee and evening show.
Auditions for LYB are held separately in October, January, and May for each new production in the following August. Open to students aged 8 and above, auditions provide an opportunity for talented individuals to join LYB. Junior dancers (ages 8 to 11) must have achieved at least Grade 1 ballet standard, while seniors (ages 12 and above) should have a minimum of Grade 3 ballet or higher. The audition process involves a ballet class, and students may be grouped according to their ballet grade.
LYB ensures fairness by accepting every student who applies for an audition. Regardless of the result, each student receives written feedback within 21 days of the audition. There is an audition fee of 12. 50, and boys and girls audition together in the same session.
As a leading youth ballet company in the UK, LYB is renowned for its dedication to promoting and nurturing local talent. With its commitment to excellence and passion for ballet, LYB continues to captivate audiences with their exceptional productions.