London Children's Ballet, The Canterville Ghost, Peacock Theatre

A unique venture, London Children’s Ballet is made up of aspiring dancers aged between 9 and fifteen years old. They come from all over the country and all backgrounds, and receive upwards of 100 hours of expert tuition and performance for free.

In exchange, this talented bunch provide the best possible introduction to ballet and music, as well as inspiration, to their peers. What’s not to like?

London Children’s Ballet has been going from strength to strength for 24 years; this year the company will dance The Canterville Ghost, first adapted for them in 2005 from Oscar Wilde’s witty novella and choreographed by the late David Fielding on a charming score by Artem Vassiliev.

It tells the story of a very misunderstood ghost, Sir Simon Canterville, who’s been haunting his ancestral home since 1584, but comes into a spot of trouble when an American family buy the house. They find the ghost quaint, the young twins take pleasure in tormenting him, and only the 15-year-old daughter, Virginia, shows some compassion and finally sets the ghost free.

Both funny and moving, The Canterville Ghost was designed to appeal to children and grown ups alike, with Dancer Magazine describing it as 'a polished and entertaining evening of ballet that all dance enthusiasts will love.’