Ballet lovers recently enjoyed three sell out performances of an enchanting new production – Adora’s Gift, a new ballet for children performed by Farnham’s de Meric School of Dance at the Aldridge Theatre, Frensham Heights. The ballet was most skilfully created and choreographed by Angela Hardcastle and Lisa Lee, both with an illustrious record of teaching and choreography. They collaborated with Aurelia Whitfield, the Principle of the de Meric School of Dance in the production of this delightful new ballet.

The story of Adora’s Gift tells of a wilful princess and in order to teach her a lesson, she is flown around the world by fairies, flying over mountains and seas, meeting all sorts of people and creatures until finally she learns that being kind and thinking of others is more important than thinking of oneself.

The performance opened with the adult tap class dancing to the music ‘In the Mood’. Their energetic dancing, lively music and colourful costumes were a dazzling start to the show, which had the audience clapping, whooping and cheering them on. The ballet included so many sumptuous dances and a huge cast of talented young entertainers. Eliza Kay as Princess Adora was an enchanting and exquisite dancer. Adora’s sisters were Annabel Wicks and Gemma Jones, both graceful and expressive. The fairies who accompanied Adora on her journey were Jemima McGowan, Tilly Easton, Ella Rogers and Saffiiyah Hastings. They all wore the most elaborate and colourful tutus and their effortless technique and elegant dancing held the audience spellbound.

The smallest children performed as Dragonflies, Caterpillars, butterflies and teddies. Mother Duck led a cast of tiny ducklings on stage to the delight of the audience. The Shamrocks entertained with an energetic, toetapping Irish dance and the Bollywood and Persian performers in their exotic costumes, haunting music and faultless technique were very appealing. The clowns gave a very lively acro performance with the most amazing, cartwheels, leaps and turns.

The older pupils danced enchantingly to Tchaikovsky’s Waltz of the flowers and others, in long white dresses, performed a ballet set to the music of Tchaikovsky’s Snowflakes from the Nutcracker. They looked so ethereal with an effortless technique and exquisite poise. The audience loved every moment of the performance and obviously didn’t want it to end. The loud, appreciative applause and cheers showed what a tremendous success this wonderful, new ballet had been. Aurelia Whitfield, the Principle of the de Meric School of Dance, commended all her students for their star studded performance and thanked the many people who had all helped make the performances such a resounding success.