balletLORENT - Actively Against Inequality

Who are we?

We are a dance company with a difference. We tour to middle to large scale venues across the UK to audiences of thousands. But our ensemble differs from a classical ballet company. Our ensembles are made up of primary school children, many of whom have never danced before.

balletLORENT has led the way for 25 years in proving that individuality is to be celebrated in dance, different backgrounds are to be celebrated and that talented children must be offered opportunities, including the knowledge that a life in the performing arts may be an option for them, wherever they have come from.

We offer talented children across the UK the chance to perform and bow shoulder to shoulder with professional dancers. This becomes life changing in that it evidences the childrens’ talent to themselves, the whole family and a wider community. We are raising funds to support a cast of 32 primary school children aged 6-11 to perform on stage with the company in The Lost Happy Endings in theatres across the UK in 2020.

We believe that access to the arts cannot be solely based on how much income you have, where you live or who you know. Because it can’t always be about privilege, all the time.

The Lost Happy Endings

Our latest production is an original story by Carol Ann Duffy, created and produced by balletLORENT.

Deep in the forest lives Jub, a magical girl with six fingers on each hand. Her job is to guard the Happy Endings to stories and fairytales. But one day an otherworldly Witch steals them, and at bedtime the stories are destroyed… As the Witch disappears with the stolen Happy Endings it is up to Jub to save the night, encountering many beloved fairytale characters and woodland creatures in her quest...

Packed with spirit, adventure and glorious surprises, this fantasy family show will delight generations both old and young.

Original score composed by Murray Gold, with set design by Neil Murray, costume design by Nasir Mazhar and narrated by Joanna Lumley.

The Children

The children are integral to The Lost Happy Endings. We have worked extensively with young community casts in our fairytale trilogy; Rapunzel (2012), Snow White (2015), and Rumpelstiltskin (2017), and for this project we have decided to develop the overwhelming talent we saw on those tours by bringing back 32 of the children who danced in them.  This core group will be divided into 4 regional groups who will each go on to perform in 2-3 different venues across the UK.

How will the money be spent?

The money we are raising will pay towards the travel and accommodation for the 32 children and their families and chaperones. They will need to stay in hotels and travel by train, which will be a new and exciting prospect for some of them. This experience is completely free for the children and will be a life changing adventure.