BUDDING ballet dancers got a taste of what it is like to be a professional dancer when the Royal Ballet School paid a visit to Swindon Dance.

The event was part of the prestigious ballet school’s primary steps programme, which is now in its tenth year in Swindon, and involves a special day of ballet demonstrations for 328 pupils.

Year 3 pupils from six Swindon primary schools gathered in the town hall for a rare opportunity to see first-hand the athleticism and artistry of ballet students.

The pupils also had the opportunity to experience the positions and movements of ballet for themselves by having a go on stage.

Showing them the ropes were final-year Royal Ballet School students and younger students from the school’s nationwide Junior Associate Scheme.

In Swindon, The Royal Ballet School’s partner, Swindon Dance, has helped to develop the innovative programme involving the following primary schools, Oak Tree, Tregoze, Mountford Manor, Lawn, Drove and Lainesmead.

The youngsters have also been spending six weeks working closely with teachers from The Royal Ballet School’s outreach and access department, discovering ballet through a carefully-designed series of creative dance workshops.

Helen Ganberg from Swindon Dance said: “The day went really well and it was really well received by the children and teachers. I think everyone felt really inspired.

“They got a taste of different parts of ballet and I think some of them were really surprised.

“What was interesting to me was all kinds of children like it. You might assume it’s just little girls but there were lots of boys there who loved it.

“One of the dancers was male and was extremely strong and did some amazing things and the children were absolutely amazed.

“They were also asking what the dancers ate, what time they got up, what their future plans were and if they did dancing every day.”

The primary steps programme touches the lives of more than 2,000 young people throughout England each year in Dagenham, Swindon, Blackpool, Bury St Edmunds and Mansfield.

At the end of the six week course, 26 of the most talented pupils will be invited to further their new-found knowledge and skills by joining weekly primary steps classes at Swindon Dance for up to four years.

The young people taking part will receive their training from teachers specially approved by The Royal Ballet School.

After the four years, the aspiring young dancers will be advised on how best to continue their dance training and some may be invited to audition for The Royal Ballet School’s highly regarded Junior Associate programme.

But Helen said ballet is not just for youngsters.

She added: “Anyone can do ballet, we run classes for adults and interestingly they are some of our most popular classes.”