Carnforth dancer steps up to a leading ballet role (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Carnforth dancer steps up to a leading ballet role

10:20am Thursday 20th September 2012 in News By Rachel Ryan

A DEDICATED and talented north Lancashire dancer is to perform Swan Lake with the Birmingham Royal Ballet.

Carnforth’s Yvette Knight, who first slipped on her ballet shoes aged three-and-a-half, has already performed Sir Peter Wright’s ballet with the prestigious company to sell-out crowds in the USA and Birmingham.

She is now preparing to step on stage in Manchester after being promoted from artist to first artist.

The talented ballerina entered dance festivals and competitions across north Lancashire as a youngster before landing a place at the presigious White Lodge boarding school. It was established in 1955 by Ninette de Valois, founder of the Royal Ballet, to provide dancers for the company.

Miss Knight joined the Birmingham Royal Ballet in 2007 after starring as a student in ballets such as The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker with the Royal Ballet.

Miss Knight has worked relentlessly to dance at the BRB, which boasts some of the world’s greatest dancers.

Miss Knight, who was awarded the Sibley Dowell Young British Dancer of the Year in 2006, said: “It’s a lot of time and effort but if you want to get this far, you have to be dedicated to it and be prepared to put in extra hours.

“When I joined the company, I had a very bad foot injury in my first year. That was really hard work. I had a lot of days in our rehab centre, lots of exercises, lots of training to keep myself strong for when I was better.”

Miss Knight’s next step is to become a soloist, then a first soloist, before making it to a principal dancer.

Swan Lake is currently being staged at the Lowry, Salford Quays.