Tassia Sissons, 23, and a student at the prestigious Northern School of Contemporary Dance, will take to the stage at Derby Theatre later this month in balletLORENT's dance theatre production of Snow White.
Tassia has been dancing since she was just three years old, and says it is a 'dream come true' to be appearing so close to home.
As part of Tassia's postgraduate studies at dance school in Leeds, she is spending a year as an apprentice dancer with Newcastle-based balletLORENT. A truly hands-on apprenticeship, the work experience includes going on tour with the company, to venues including Sadler's Wells East in London, and Derby Theatre.
Tasia will appear as one of the seven miners who befriend Snow White, as well as taking on other ensemble roles.
Before gaining a hard won place at Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Tassia joned the local East Midlands CAT (Centre for Advanced Training) programme at the age of 13. Supported through the Department for Education, weekend and intensive holiday sessions help to prepare talented young dancers for a career in performing arts.
Tassia says her family's support means everything to her and played a major role in her success.
She said: "My parents have been the greatest support imaginable throughout my dance training and studies. I’m very lucky in that they support my every move and have allowed me to be exactly who I want to be as an artist.
"My Grandad lives in Castle Donington - a stone's throw really from Derby Theatre where I will be performing - and I can't wait for him and my whole family to come and watch the show.
"As a child, I appeared in amateur productions across the East Midlands and now returning somewhere so close to home to perform professionally is a dream come true!
"To appear in Snow White makes it extra special, because I have always enjoyed fairy tales and grew up with a very wild imagination, and so fairy tales fitted in well with the magic of singing and dancing."
James MacGillivray, education & projects manager, balletLORENT, said: "We are proud to have supported the training and development of many young dance artists from Northern School of Contemporary Dance over many years.
"Former apprentice dancers joining balletLORENT through our programmes have gone on to lead highly successful freelance careers as dancers, teachers and choreographers across the UK, with several continuing into performance work with balletLORENT.
"We can feel Tassia's excitement that our Snow White tour is taking her to her home turf and Derby Theatre will be a very special show for the whole company as we share in her anticipation."
Suitable for ages 5+, balletLORENT’s dance theatre version of Snow White retains all the classic elements of the original Brothers Grimm tale: a magic mirror, a poisoned apple, and a smitten prince.
With narration by award-winning actor Lindsay Duncan – recently seen on screen in Apple TV’s The Morning Show - and music by Dr Who composer Murray Gold, Tassia will be part of an impressive line-up of talent. Ten children, aged 6-8, from Firs Primary School in Derby, are also joining the cast.
balletLORENT's Snow White is on Friday 25 (6.30pm) and Saturday 26 (2pm) April 2025 at Derby Theatre, 15 Theatre Walk, St Peter’s Quarter, DE1 2NF
Tickets: £23. T: 01332 593939 or https://derbytheatre.co.uk/event/snow-white/