Swan Lake inspires dance sessions for young people

The dance project coincides with the 30th anniversary of Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake

Young people in Devon are taking part in dance classes inspired by a famous ballet.

The national project, Swan Lake Take Flight, is running regional sessions at the Theatre Royal Plymouth.

Organisers said the dance classes and workshops focussed on connecting, creating and moving to improve wellbeing.

The project coincides with the 30th anniversary of Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake and aims to reach 2,500 young people on the nationwide tour.

Willow, a child who has taken part, said "all my worries go away" when she dances

Etta Murfitt, associate artistic director of dance theatre company New Adventures, said: “Now, more than ever, young people need dance and dance needs young people.

"Just as our production of Swan Lake embraces the next generation, Swan Lake Take Flight will get today’s generation of children and young people moving and excited about dance."

Carly Brown-Martin, who is a senior youth worker at Connecting Youth CIC, an organisation based in Plymouth, said: "Not everybody is a linear learner, some people can only express through dance, they can't sit and talk.

"Every young person has the right to access being able to express how they feel or who they are."

Willow, who is a child taking part in the project, said: "When I do ballet I feel free. When I dance I feel like the world around me just shuts off - all my worries go away."

Daisy May-Kemp, who has been with the dance company for 20 years and is a dance artist who helps lead the sessions, said: "Connection, joy, creativity - the same values as the company - that's really what these sessions are about."