Children’s Let’s Dance ballet experience, designed to inspire the next generation of dancers and arts enthusiasts, ran in tandem with Australian Ballet’s Horsham performance last week.

The program offered dance school students a workshop with ballet repetiteur Paul Knobloch, and the opportunity to observe rehearsals before watching the main show.

“The Let’s Dance program travels alongside the Australian Ballet national tour and teaches the fundamentals of classical ballet,” he said.

“We’re really hoping to inspire the next generation of young dancers, and not only that, theatregoers. 

“We’re really hoping to open up avenues and make dance more accessible to everybody, no matter where they’re from, especially if they can’t get to the big cities like Sydney and Melbourne to come and see these elite companies, such as the Australian Ballet. 

“The fact we can inspire and ignite that little spark in someone, no matter where they are in Australia, is really rewarding.” 

Avenue Dance Studio owner Lou Ryan works alongside former Horsham School of Dance owner Karen Booker; the two respectively taught several students who have progressed into performing arts careers.

Among the hundreds of students across four decades are Alex Rathgeber, Michael Sherry, Liam Robertson, Grace O’Donnell-Clancy and Sienna Walsgott.

Ms Booker said some of the students in last week’s class were new to ballet.

“They’re trying something new, and hopefully, they’ll learn to love it and maybe join a ballet class,” she said.

“The kids come out, and they’re smiling, they’ve had such a good time. It’s wonderful.” 

The performance and workshop will continue to Mildura, Adelaide, Darwin and Alice Springs. 

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