ALMOST 100 children from Monmouth and surrounding villages took part in a Monnow Ballet School production of the Nutcracker at the Blake Theatre on Saturday 13th December.

Aged 3-14 they danced very professionally and were joined by two previous pupils now at Elmhurst School for Dance who performed stunning pointe solos.

The standard was extremely high from all the children and, despite some reluctant three year old stars, the show went extremely well.

The senior students chose which sweets they would become in the second act and were accessorised by local costumier Tanya Somerset of Bolli Darling.The Victorian costumes were kindly lent by Off Centre Theatre and made an excellent setting for the first act.

Andrew Griffiths of Monmouth Music Theatre was a particularly fine narrator. There was some excellent acting from the boys in the first half as mischievous Victorian children and then again as rats with promising local talent Dawid Baraskiewicz as the Nutcracker. Dawid is currently a junior associate of the Royal Ballet School with his sister Amelia who danced the part of "Candyfloss".

The main part of Clara was danced beautifully by Jessica Ward, Monnow Ballet's youngest principal so far.

A special mention to the Christmas puddings, carol singers and "modern day" children who had only just learnt their dances after working towards their first Royal Academy of Dance exam for most of the term.

Aged 5-7 they only learnt their dances a few weeks before the show and performed extremely well.

Monnow Ballet is in its 6th year now and has two children at vocational school, as well as successfully promoting boys ballet. It aims to further increase access to ballet for children of all backgrounds and abilities.

For information on classes visit http://www.monnowballet.co.uk">www.monnowballet.co.uk or contact Nina Salmon on 07974117701.