Ballet stars inspire dance students at gala

Dance students from Dorset took part in a masterclass with Royal Ballet teacher Ricardo Cervera (centre in black top)

Children from dance schools in Dorset said they were inspired after meeting the biggest names in British ballet and taking part in a masterclass.

Principal dancers from the Royal Ballet, English National Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet were performing in two fundraising galas at Minterne House.

Ahead of one performance, Royal Ballet teacher Ricardo Cervera invited youngsters on stage for a special class to help improve their technique.

The children also got tickets to see their ballet idols performing extracts from Swan Lake, Cinderella, Carousel and other shows.

Lukas B. Brændsrød and Mariko Sasaki of the Royal Ballet perform at the Ballet At Minterne event

"It's a great experience to be given the opportunity to be on this stage with people who have that skill and talent," said Bethany from Quay Theatre Arts in Weymouth.

"I'm definitely going to take all the feedback we've been given back to the dance studio and make sure I pay attention to every little move!"

Her fellow student Reuben said he had learnt a lot. "Ballet is normally perceived as all technique but when you actually dance it, it's lyrical and fun."

Meaghan Grace Hinkis, First Soloist with Royal Ballet

The Ballet at Minterne event was produced by Meaghan Grace Hinkis, a First Soloist with the Royal Ballet, who is passionate about inspiring the next generation of dancers.

"I wanted to get us out of Central London and bring the arts into the beautiful Dorset countryside," she said.

"I can remember meeting my ballet idols as a child and saying to my mum, "I want to be them!'"

"I hope today will light something inside these children and plant a seed for the future. If just one or two feel like they'd love to do ballet one day, we've done our job."