The Duchy Ballet was formed to celebrate the opening of The
Hall for Cornwall in November 1997. The aim was to establish
a youth ballet company for Cornwall providing the opportunity
to train, rehearse and perform within a professional setting
alongside artists from the national stage.
Hundreds of young dancers have over the years benefited from
the experience of performing before ever growing audiences,
in excess of 4,000 for "Giselle and The Mousehole Cat".
Since its inception the Duchy Ballet has introduced some
of the major classical ballets to an audience that has had
few opportunities to experience the visual beauty of a carefully
crafted production accompanied by a live orchestra. The company
has also created new works: Peter and the Wolf; Stepping out
to Gershwin; The Snow Queen and, most notably, The Mousehole
Cat which is inspired by an enchanting Cornish folk tale written
by Antonia Barber and for which the score was specially commissioned
from Ian Hughes.
The company has, and will continue to be, a springboard for
Cornwall's young dancers in the early stages of their dancing
careers. Success to date has seen members of the company secure
places at London Studio Centre, Laine Theatre Arts, London
Contemporary Dance, The Urdang Academy, the Royal Ballet School
and Dance College of Cornwall.
The Duchy Ballet is non-profit making, and receives no grant
assistance, relying solely on its audience and sponsorship
to meet the costs of its productions.
There is, however, an army of volunteers making costumes
and sets, helping with publicity and advertising, and helping
backstage during performances, without whom, the productions
could not be staged.
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