The English Youth Ballet is Fundraising for a New Production
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
It is 10 years since EYB presented a new production and so they have launched a fundraising campaign as they would like to bring a completely new ballet – Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – to their portfolio in 2027.
The fundraising goal for this new production is over £100,000. Recently EYB began approaching philanthropists and trusts and foundations with a goal to raise a minimum of 90% or £90,000 of this goal. EYB has also launched a Crowd Funding Page on JustGiving with a minimum target of £10,000.
Impact
Each year EYB provides over 650 children and young people, between the ages of 8 and 18, with the opportunity to perform in a full-length classical ballet with professional principals in major theatres throughout the United Kingdom. In a typical year, EYB will select 7 or 8 venues outside of London and audition young dancers from local ballet schools. EYB will normally audition over 150 dancers for each production and will usually cast 100 young dancers. Some 12 full days of rehearsal will follow culminating in 3 performances. Audiences regularly exceed 2,000 at most venues.
What your donation could fund
The funds needed to launch large productions is considerable, as the following individual items that make up a production as a whole are costly. Designs, Materials and Makers fees for Scenery, Lighting, Costumes, Props, Headdresses, Masks and a special Narrator’s fee. Music composition and recording costs.
Why help create a new ballet production
New ballets inject new life and enthusiasm into our popular and successful ballet company. Therefore, it is the desire and intention to produce Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland in 2027/28.
Our special thanks go to Rick Wakeman who is excited and enthusiastic about composing the music for this epic production. We are also grateful to Don Warrington who will narrate the performance.
EYB will bring Alice and the famous characters to life. Enjoy them all – the agitated White Rabbit, the bizarre Caterpillar with its undulating segments, the graceful smiling Cheshire Cat, The Mad Hatter’s Tea-Party, and the handsome Jack of Hearts, condemned by the ferocious Queen.
Enjoy the beautiful corps de ballet dancing in the red and white Rose Ballet and the striking patterns of the Lobster Quadrille. This promises to be a memorable evening of ballet.
There will be 180 fabulous new costumes bringing the famous Tenniel drawings to life.
In order to achieve this new production, we are asking our friends and supporters to consider a donation of £10, £15, £25 or more if you can afford to. Please donate via the JustGiving page.
EYB REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRUST
The English Youth Ballet Regional Development Trust which has been set up as a financial back-up for the future of promising young ballet dancers.
The aims of the trust are to expand the Company’s repertoire and enable new productions and scholarships to be brought before our students and audiences.
The Trust will help to offset rising costs and allow us to keep any fee increases to a minimum. The Trust aims to bring the benefits and appreciation of EYB to wider audiences and develop and encourage young dancers in furthering their future in ballet.
To these ends we do encourage you to subscribe to EYB’s new development trust and help us to take EYB into an exciting future. All levels of contributions will be gratefully received.
For more information or if you wish to make a donation please contact the EYB Office on 07732 383600 or email Anthony Burke, Senior Trustee. Email: tr.burke@hotmail.com