A WONDERFUL evening of ballet, tinged with bittersweet moments, was greatly enjoyed by the audience in the Ivor Potter Hall at Bude’s Parkhouse Centre on Sunday, November 12, writes Christine Williams.

The dancers aged from seven to 16 of the Jason Thomas Performing Arts Studio (JTPA) provided a programme of both classical ballet and modern jazz routines with which they have competed in recent competitions.

The senior dancers opened the programme with Heart Cry, a modern jazz routine choreographed by Jennifer Basett followed by Snow White, in the style of modern lyrical jazz choreographed by Steph Small. Steph also choreographed other items including a jazz routine called Wild Child performed by the juniors and inters aged seven to 12, classical ballet solos and a trio performed by Isabelle Colwill, Lowen Middleton, Sandy Finn Haylock and Phoebe Boundy and Maisie Finn Haylock.

It was, however, a sad occasion as, until two weeks before, the audience has been expecting to see a performance of ‘Odile’, a reworked version of ‘Swan Lake’ by the JSLN Dance Company.

JSLN is a unique company which not only tours the UK performing at smaller venues giving people who live in areas remote from large theatres a chance to see high quality professional ballet but also provides workshops to young dancers and people of all ages in care homes and schools for disabled children.

Unfortunately, JSLN had to cancel their tour of 12 venues across the UK when their bids for financial support by Arts Council England were rejected.

Even so, they kept their promise and the company’s artistic director. Soren Niewelt and two of their dancers, Vittoria Muollo and Caroline Rees, came to Bude for the weekend to provide a workshop for local dancers.

In three hours they learned a neo-classical style ballet new to them, which they performed in the second half of the programme while Vittoria and Caroline replicated the movements of JSLN dancers in a film behind them rehearsing Odile in their studio.

Afterwards JTPA’s choreographer Steph said: “What an incredible show and an amazing opportunity for our kids. They absolutely loved the new dance they learned.”

A letter of support for JSLN was sent to Arts Council, paper petitions are being signed and within days more that 200 people signed an online petition. These have had an immediate effect. The ACE dance relationship manager in the South West contacted the company and on November 23, a meeting took place at which she offered advice on strengthening future applications. It is now hoped that the planned tour of Odile will be able to take place in June/July next year.

The petition can be found at you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-jsln-dance-company-s-uk-tour-of-odile