Tameside youngsters to shine in prestigious Ballet production

In March, Holly Philburn, Margot Kennedy and Hope Warner, all from Tameside successfully earned places in the prestigious English Youth Ballet (EYB) production of Swan Lake, joining an elite cast of 97 dancers after highly competitive auditions. 

Currently immersed in rehearsals, they are experiencing the life of a professional dancer, refining their skills and preparing for unforgettable performances. Their excitement is building as they will take the stage alongside internationally acclaimed professional dancers at the Palace Theatre, Manchester from Friday 5th to Saturday 6th June 2026.

EYB’s emotionally charged production of Swan Lake is set in 1895 Imperial Russia and tells of love, rivalry, greed and murder. The action takes place in the Mariinsky Theatre where the Mariinsky Ballet are preparing for a production of Swan Lake and the sumptuous Royal Palace of the Tsar.

Two unlikely lovers meet Odette, a dancer with the Mariinsky Ballet and Prince Sergei, son to the Tsar. The Tsar must ensure that Prince Sergei does not marry beneath his station. Equally, the tyrannical Baron Von Rothbart would do anything to secure a royal patronage for his ballet company. He would even manipulate his own daughter Odile, to compete for the affections of the Prince.

Local Talent Shines
Over 230 young dancers auditioned at Palace Theatre Manchester in March, where parents looked on as the hopefuls took part in a full ballet class. The successful dancers were informed on the day, adding to the excitement of the occasion.The 97 selected dancers are now undergoing an intensive rehearsal period, training for 60 hours across 10 rehearsal days. Rehearsals are structured to mirror the professional dance environment, including daily company warm-up classes and a dynamic, rotating schedule across three large studios. Each rehearsal day culminates in a full company run-through to consolidate learning and performance skills.

A Message from Janet Lewis OBE, EYB Director
“English Youth Ballet’s aim is to provide performance experience to aspiring young dancers in beautiful venues close to where they live. The young dancers get to experience what life is like in a professional ballet company. They learn about developing their artistic and performance skills as well as improving their technique. I am always amazed at how quickly the young dancers progress and how positive they are when presented with new challenges.”

English Youth Ballet is an award-winning company, having received The Stage Award for Special Achievement in Regional Theatre. EYB productions are known for their grandeur and scale, combining world-class professional artists with exceptional local youth talent. Principal dancers performing in Swan Lake have danced with leading international companies such as English National Ballet, Vienna Festival Ballet, San Diego Ballet, and Ballet Cymru. Many former EYB dancers have gone on to professional careers, with alumni now performing in top companies including The Royal Ballet.

Hope Warner (13) who lives in Stalybridge and trains at Kirsten’s Dance Academy.  “I've danced for as long as I can remember. I started at 2 years old. I wasn’t initially at Kirstens Dance Academy and moved there when I was 3. When I started there, I realised how much I loved dance and it has become a big part of my life.  Now I can’t imagine my life without it or my KDA family. 

The best feeling is after weeks of learning and perfecting a troupe or performance to be able to perform it in front of an audience and the reaction. The feeling you have as a team is the best feeling.  At EYB, I am hoping to learn lots to build on my technique.

I am excited to learn from the principal dancers and to build on my pointe work.”

Tickets available online at www.atgtickets.com/manchester or in person at the Box Office