Young ballet dancers bring magic to the stage in Peter Pan

The National Ballet School of Namibia is bringing the magic of childhood to the stage with its production of Peter Pan at the National Theatre of Namibia.

The show features around 130 dancers aged four to 19, making it one of the school’s largest stage productions. Most of the cast are children, giving young performers the rare opportunity to appear on a professional theatre stage.

“I have never done Peter Pan before. It is very child-friendly and lends itself to a lot of variety,” production director Zelrine Verdoes explained.

Some of the dances were choreographed and taught as early as last year, giving the performers time to prepare for the demanding show.

Apart from two guest artists and Verdoes herself, the entire cast is made up of students from the ballet school.

Because of the large number of dancers, the production includes selected scenes from the original story that are often omitted in other adaptations.

The dancers range from beginners to advanced students. Primary-level students complete internationally recognised Cecchetti ballet examinations, progressing through to Advanced 2.

Verdoes said productions like these are important for young dancers because many of them may never get another chance to perform in a large, stately theatre.

“It gives them exposure to the theatre world and builds their confidence tremendously,” she said.

Visiting Never Never Land

The response from audiences has been overwhelmingly positive so far, with full houses and strong applause each night.

“I hope the audience is reminded of their youth and for a moment transported to a magical place,” Verdoes said.

“I also hope children feel inspired to start ballet and parents are encouraged to enrol their children in ballet classes.”

The production continues to capture the imagination of audiences as young performers bring the beloved story of the boy who never grows up to life on stage.

The performance opened on Wednesday and conclude tonight.