Young performers from Basingstoke Academy of Dancing to appear in Angelina Ballerina

The young students will be performing their own dance routine as a curtain raiser to open the Mousical, an all singing all dancing production of the classic children’s book series Angelina Ballerina.

“Angelina Ballerina is all about encouraging and inspiring our audience”, director and writer Miranda Larson explains. “Whether it’s to follow your dreams, or simply join in and have a go at something. Having eight young dancers from Basingstoke Academy of Dancing supports this, so I am thrilled to have them on stage to open our show and I cannot wait to see what they will perform!”

The curtain raiser will also act as a warm up for the girls, who were recently cast in The Anvil's Christmas pantomime Cinderella, explains Andrea Bath at The Anvil. “It is great that some of the dancers who have been chosen will get the opportunity to appear of the stage a little sooner, and I am sure they will get some good advice from Angelina!”

The selected girls from Basingstoke Academy, aged 7-11, are all “very excited” to be performing in both shows says principal Tanya Schipelbaum: "They are all very active at the Academy, with recent successes in exams and festivals and also helping the Academy to win the Arts and Entertainment section of Destination Basingstoke’s Place to be Proud Awards.”

Angelina Ballerina is playing at The Anvil from Fri 13 – Sun 15 June. Box Office: 01256 844244. Cinderella opens on December 11 and stars young dancers from the Basingstoke Academy of Dancing and North Hampshire Academy of Dance.