The London Children's Ballet is a registered charitable trust created in 1994. LCB was formed to give children the experience of performing as part of a company, in a professionally produced, full length ballet at a professional theatre. LCB provides opportunities to dance for children from many diverse backgrounds and the experience is free. Performances are staged annually at the Peacock Theatre, in the West End, London's famous theatre district. These performances include the staging of original productions, which have sold out every year since the company was established. The company is also involved in a number of smaller projects. The "£1 outreach matinees" enable the public to see a ballet at an affordable price and LCB2 is a touring company which visits venues where people are unable to attend the theatre, including hospitals, community centres, hospices and schools. These tours are produced around the year so as to provide opportunities for children all-year-round. To dance in a LCB production, children must first attend an audition, designed to assess their suitability to take part. Successful candidates then meet for weekly rehearsals on a Sunday in the lead up to the performance, ensuring there is no disruption to their academic education. LCB organises an annual summer school, lasting a week and catering for one hundred children. The summer school consists of a range of workshops, where the children take classes in ballet and other dance forms such as jazz, and also study choreography. Older children also take part in a one-day tour, taking their summer school production to elderly homes around London. The LCB also provides a venue for recently graduated composers, choreographers and designers from the Wimbledon College of Art.
History
Lucille Briance founded the LCB in 1994 after her daughter showed an interest in auditioning for dance schools. Lucille felt she was too young to join a proper dance school and thus looked for an alternative. Unfortunately there was no dance company for children that would allow her daughter to perform as well as keep up her academic studies. Lucille therefore decided to create one and the LCB was born. A choreographer was appointed and the auditions for the new company were advertised, successfully attracting children from many different parts of the community. After the first season, a composer was hired, so that the LCB could stage new and interesting works, appealing to the whole family. This was a success — the first new ballet premiered by LCB, The Happy Prince, sold out. Every year since, the LCB has successfully staged narrative ballets based on classic children's stories.
Productions
2018 The Canterville Ghost, Revival Choreographer: Victoria Collison, Composer: Artem Vassiliev
2017 The Secret Garden, Choreography: Erico Montes, Composer: Artem Vassiliev
2016 Little Lord Fauntleroy Choreographer: Jenna Lee Composer: Richard Norriss
2015 Snow White Choreographer: Jenna Lee Composer: Richard Norriss
2014 Nanny McPhee Choreographer: Erico Montes Composer: '
2013 The Secret Garden Choreographer: Erico Montes Composer: Artem Vassiliev
2012 A Little Princess Choreographer: Samantha Raine Composer: '
