London Children's Ballet

The London Children's Ballet (LCB) is a registered charitable trust created in 1994. LCB was formed to give children the experience of performing as part of a company, in a professionally produced, full length ballet at a professional theatre. LCB provides opportunities to dance for children from many diverse backgrounds and the experience is free.

Performances are staged annually at the Peacock Theatre, in the West End, London's primary theatre district. These performances include the staging of original productions, which have sold out every year since the company was established. The company is also involved in a number of smaller projects. The "£1 outreach matinees" enable the public to see a ballet at an affordable price and LCB2 is a touring company that visits venues where people are unable to attend the theatre, including hospitals, community centres, hospices and schools. These tours are produced throughout the year.

To become dancer in an LCB production, children must first attend an audition, designed to assess their suitability to take part. Successful candidates then meet for weekly rehearsals on Sundays leading up to the performance, so they may still attend school during the week.

LCB organises an annual summer school, lasting for one week and enrolling 100 children. The summer school curriculum includes a range of workshops, where children take classes in Ballet and other genres such as Jazz and Choreography. Older children also take part in a one-day tour, taking their summer school production to elderly homes around London.

LCB also provides a venue for recently graduated composers, choreographers, and designers from the Wimbledon College of Art.

History

Lucille Briance founded the LCB in 1994 after her daughter showed an interest in auditioning for dance schools. Lucille felt she was too young to join a proper dance school and thus looked for an alternative. She could not find a dance company for children that would allow her daughter to perform as well as continue her academic studies. Lucille therefore decided to create one and the LCB was born. A choreographer was appointed and the auditions for the new company were advertised, attracting children from many different parts of the community. After the first season, LCB hired a composer and began creating new works, aimed at the whole family. The first new ballet premiered by LCB was ''The Happy Prince and Other Tales, The Happy Prince.'' That production sold out.

Every year since, the LCB has staged narrative ballets based on classic children's stories.

Productions

2018 ''The Canterville Ghost'', Revival Choreographer: ''Victoria Collison'', Composer: ''Artem Vassiliev''

2017 ''The Secret Garden'' (Shortened version, for Ballet in a Box), Choreography:
Erico Montes
', Composer: ''Artem Vassiliev''

2016 ''Little Lord Fauntleroy'' Choreographer: ''Jenna Lee (dancer), Jenna Lee'' Composer: ''Richard Norris (musician), Richard Norriss''

2015 ''Snow White'' Choreographer: ''Jenna Lee (dancer), Jenna Lee'' Composer: ''Richard Norris (musician), Richard Norriss''

2014 ''Nanny McPhee'' Choreographer:
Erico Montes
' Composer:
Tim Hammond
'

2013 ''The Secret Garden'' Choreographer:
Erico Montes
' Composer: ''Artem Vassiliev''

2012 ''A Little Princess'' Choreographer: ''Samantha Raine'' Composer:
Tim Hammond
'

2011 ''Rumpelstiltskin'' Choreographer: ''Morgann Runacre-Temple'' Composer: ''Piers Tattersall''

2010 ''Ballet Shoes (ballet), Ballet Shoes'' Choreographer:
Matthew Hart
' Composer: ''Raymond Warren''

2009 ''Snow White'' Choreographer: ''Olivia Pickford'' Composer: ''Richard Norriss''

2008 ''Jane Eyre'' Choreographer: ''Nicole Tongue'' Composer: ''Julia Gomelskaya''

2007 ''The Secret Garden'' Choreographer: ''Christine Sundt'' Composer: ''Artem Vassiliev''

2006 ''The Scarlet Pimpernel'' Choreographer:
David Fielding
' Composer: ''Ben Foskett''

2005 ''The Canterville Ghost'' Choreographer:
David Fielding
' Composer: ''Artem Vassiliev''

2004 ''A Little Princess'' Choreographer: ''Vanessa Fenton'' Composer:
Tim Hammond
'

2003 ''Prince and the Pauper'' Choreographer: ''Irek Mukhamedhov'' Composer:
Tim Hammond
'

2002 ''Faithful Gelert'' Choreographer: ''Poppy Ben-David'' Composer:
Tim Hammond
'

2001 ''Ballet Shoes'' Choreographer: ''Cathy Marston'' Composer: ''Raymond Warren''

2000 ''The Last Battle'' Choreographer: ''Tom Sapsford'' Composer: ''Halyna Ovcharenko''

1998 ''Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris'' Choreographer:
Harold King
' Composer: ''Elizabeth Lane''

1997 ''Jane Eyre'' Choreographer: ''Pollyanna Buckingham'' Composer: ''Julia Gomelskaya''

1996 ''Faithful Gelert'' Choreographer: ''Julie Cronshaw'' Composer:
Tim Hammond
'

1995 ''A Little Princess'' Choreographer:
Harold King
' Composer:
Tim Hammond
'

1994 ''The Happy Prince'' Choreographer: ''Valerie Egri'' Composer: ''Edward Elgar''

Trustees

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Finances

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

References

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External links

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Children's dance groups
Dance companies in the United Kingdom
Ballet companies in the United Kingdom
1994 establishments in England
Performing groups established in 1994
Charitable trusts