My amazing experience with London Children’s Ballet

Daisy West is dancing the lead role of Mary Lennox in the London Children’s Ballet production of The Secret Garden. She is 11 years old and lives with her family in Hampshire. Daisy attends the Renton Dance Studio in Farnborough, headed by Senta Renton and is taught by Denise Bradshaw. Here, Daisy writes a diary leading up to the final rehearsals

November 5, 2006 – First audition
When I went in to the audition studios I was quite relaxed at first, because I had listened to my music on the way to London. But then as I went inside to the bustle of the audition preparation, I became suddenly nervous, realising how many people were actually auditioning. As I warmed up in the “small studio” I told myself that I should just go out there and give it my best shot and enjoy it. We did exercises in the centre of the room, rotating lines so that the judges could see us all. We had to wait in another room to see if we got a recall.
I was surprised that I got a recall because secretly I didn’t think that I would get one. I was also really excited; I’d never done something like this before. This time I felt more nervous because I wanted to do my best and not muck the chance up. But it seemed to go OK and I went home happy.

November 19 – Final audition
I couldn’t believe it! I got called for a final audition. I was so pleased, and my mum and dad (and I’m not allowed to forget my big brother of course!) were so supportive and great. I was not that nervous (well, OK, a bit) because I got a recall, and to get that far was great, so I just danced. We had to do a scene where Mary and Colin have tantrums and then Mary regrets it and does a little dance, called the “Lullaby Dance”. I thought this dance was beautiful.

The letter
I did it! I got in! I was going to be on stage in the West End. I was so amazed I nearly cried. I couldn’t wait for the rehearsals to start. I wanted it all to happen at once. I could absolutely not WAIT!

December 3 – Casting
I honestly didn’t think I would get this far at all – in casting – Wow! I was swept over by it all. I was really excited and couldn’t wait to see the dances. I really liked the “Lullaby Dance” of which we did a bit in the audition. I wanted to do that dance even though I didn’t expect to be Mary. I was nervous even though I knew I was in. I was excited as well even though I didn’t know what part I was going to play.

Casting letter
I must be the luckiest girl in the world. I am going to be Mary in The Secret Garden. I was close to tears when I found out. My mum was out shopping, so I rang her straight away – she answered in the supermarket, everyone must have thought she was crazy because she was nearly screaming down the phone. Everyone is so proud, and when I go to my nan’s club, people that I don’t even know start saying well done!
Costume Fitting
My dress is lovely. It is purple and white stripes and it has got a nice sash. It’s old fashioned but very pretty.

January 20-21, 2007 – the best weekend ever!
I’ve just had the best weekend ever. I went for a photo shoot, and then to my first rehearsal with London Children’s Ballet. The photo shoot was great. I met lots of people, and had my hair curled by Mandy (the hair and make up stylist). I wore my purple costume with a lovely dark purple cloak: it was gorgeous. I had to do loads of poses. The photo shoot was really cool; it was so posh and lovely. The people who were taking the photos made proper scenery, and when I saw the photos, it looked like I was in a real garden. The next day I learnt a whole scene. I have made lots of friends, and I am so glad I auditioned for LCB.

January 28 – Me and my Ayah
We’ve just practised the dance in the scene just before my birthday party in India. This is when the audience see the slightly softer side of Mary. But it doesn’t last for long, and I soon get into a very cross tantrum. I love this scene because it is such a mix of emotions. I’ve become friends with Frankie (who plays the Ayah) and I feel really bad when I have to be mean to her. I also practised the servants’ scene which is also good, but there is a lot of standing there looking VERY sullen, which is hard to do when the people who play the servants smile at you. At each rehearsal I get even more excited about the show. Everyone I know (even my school teachers) have booked tickets. I love seeing the show gradually take form every Sunday, and I wish the rehearsals were every day.
February 4 – the party scene
I love my party scene. I found out that once we’ve finished this scene the whole cast will have danced in it. I won’t give anything away now because then it wouldn’t be a surprise. It has amazing music and Roger Cutts, the company pianist, plays it so beautifully I think it sounds like a whole orchestra.

February 11 – Mr Craven
Oh my gosh! This dance is absolutely beautiful, I feel like a prima ballerina when I dance this. Its like a pas de deux, we do grand jetés, and it is so emotional. This dance is where Mary and her uncle (Mr Craven – played by Luke Divall) meet for the first time and we try to get to know each other. After the rehearsal we were lucky to get some extra coaching by James Wilkie, who works with The Royal Ballet. He taught us how to do the big lifts in our dance, and how to make them look effortless. It is hard, but Luke helps make it easier for me to do. I am working really hard on them, and trying my best, but I need to work on my flexibility. I can’t wait until we do this dance again; I think I may have fallen in love with it.

February 18 – one busy day
Phew! That was one hard day, but it was also one lovely day too. I’ve just rehearsed four scenes for the show; the “train scene”, and a scene with Colin (played by Jack Pallister) was very hard work. Plus two scenes with Dickon and the robin. By the end of the day I was exhausted. I even slept in the car on the way home. The scene with Colin is really nice, and I learned my solo. It’s called the “Lullaby Dance”. It is beautiful, but very hard work. We also learned the dance where Mary and Dickon discover the garden. We do big lifts again and I actually feel like I am flying because Dickon is so tall. At the end of the day I was sweating like mad, but felt really happy because it showed I had done a hard day’s work. I had put everything into it.

February 25 – photos and rehearsals
I’ve just got my publicity pack with the posters and flyers inside. It was so strange seeing myself on the front. I felt pleased because the picture was very nice, and I usually don’t look nice in photos. Today we rehearsed my birthday party scene again, but this time with the whole cast, and Chrissie directed from beginning to end. It was quite hard because everyone kept being told off for being too noisy. Afterwards me and Jack (the boy who plays Colin) had lunch, and nattered for an hour. It’s strange how the time passes when you are talking. After lunch we went back into the studio and rehearsed a really cool scene where the seasons pass quickly and the audience sees Mary and Colin gradually become nicer people. They also see the garden grow. One of the dances in this sequence is just free spinning, like helicopters, and at the end we collapse into each other’s arms and run off. The full-cast rehearsal was fun because I met lots of new people, and we chatted and laughed together – its really cool making new friends. I love rehearsals (they are SO much better than school). I also got The Secret Garden music CD today so I can practise.

March 4 – A scene put together
It’s amazing to see the outcome of things when so much hard work has gone into it. Today, we did the whole of scene seven. This is where Dickon, Colin and Mary are told by Ben Weatherstaff the story of how Colin’s mother died when he was a baby. It was quite easy, but it was nice seeing the whole scene come together. Gradually, as we do more and more scenes, we all see the ballet coming to life and taking form. I think we’ve got the party scene sussed, and at the next rehearsal we are going to practice the “skipping scene”.

March 11 – Skipping and Singing
We rehearsed two scenes today. The “skipping scene” where Martha introduces me to Dickon on my first day at Misselthwaite Manor, and gets him to buy me a skipping rope. Then we rehearsed a new scene where Colin, Dickon and Mary are playing in the garden and singing songs. Mr.Craven (Colin’s dad) hears the singing and comes to investigate. I like this scene, it’s fun and it involves a lot of acting.

March 18 – Scenes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. And finale!
Today has been fantastic! We rehearsed all of scenes one to five in a row, starting from the very beginning of the whole production. It is amazing to see it all; it felt like a semi-dress rehearsal. scene 1 is cool because I find that I actually want to cry, because in the story my mum doesn’t love me. I also got some tips on acting from Will Oldroyd. I’ve got my first acting rehearsal with him next rehearsal. After that, we did scene 2 again. Except now I’ve got a new dad! He is called Obi and he is SO tall, when he lifts me, it feels like I’m going to whack my head on the ceiling or fly off into the circle. It’s great. After the thrill-of-a-lifetime with Obi, I had a short break for the “Cholera Scene”. Then, I was back on with scene 4, where I am all on my own and the Colonel and Lady find me. This involves lots of acting, and I have a rather musical tantrum. We learnt that scene for 30 minutes and then we went back over Scene 5 with the pas de deux with Mr. Craven, and the servants dance. I swear the lifts are getting better. Then we rehearsed the final scene in the production. I love it. It makes me feel so professional. I won’t spoil it, so all I’ll say is that it is absolutely lovely!

A few words on London Children’s Ballet
London Children’s Ballet is one of the best companies for children, it is very professional, and there will never be a rehearsal that is boring. They try to make everybody’s scenes equal, so some people will have two or three parts while others will have one big part. I love it and am so glad I auditioned. It will be an experience I will never forget, and I am so grateful to be chosen to take part in it. Everyone has worked so hard for the production, and I have made lots of new friends along the way. Everyone has been great to work with and I have had a LOT of fun. For anyone who loves dancing, London Children’s Ballet is your thing!

 

London Children’s Ballet will perform The Secret Garden at the Peacock Theatre from May 17–20. Telephone the box office on 0870 737 0337 for further details, or see calendar page 91.

All photographs of London Children’s Ballet by Peter Teigen.