YOUTH BALLET West imparted a warm Christmassy glow to the Town Hall on Sunday last with their delightful production of Nutcracker Suite and Divertissements, which marked the culmination of the company’s first year in existence.
Youth Ballet West is made up of 23 young dancers, chosen at audition from Galway, Limerick, and Longford. These are advanced ballet students aged between 13 and 20. They train five times a week and rehearse all weekend. The company has gained support and recognition from The Arts Council of Ireland and Galway County Council, and is the only youth ballet company outside Dublin to have achieved such status.
YBW’s Christmas show was an eclectic and engaging mix of traditional classical ballet, neo-classical, and contemporary work. The programme commenced with a series of short pieces performed to contemporary songs by the likes of Katy Melua, Coldplay, and Paddy Casey.
Next up was Leighton Morrison’s specially commissioned choreographing of Luigini’s Ballet Egyptien which conjured up the ancient and exotic world of Tutankhamen and his court, which ensured Act One of the production ended on a high.
It also set the scene nicely for Act Two’s presentation of Tchaikovsky’s perennial favourite, Nutcracker Suite, in a fresh staging by Judith Sibley. All the seasonal magic of the kingdom of sweets, graceful snowflakes, and the Sugarplum fairy were beautifully recreated in a visually sumptuous and gracefully performed ballet that captivated young and old alike in the capacity Town Hall audience.
The enthusiastic ovation with which the dancers and choreographers were saluted at the final curtain was fully merited and whetted the appetite for whatever this talented young company opts to do next.
