Mackworth Mum and baby daughter land starring roles in ballet show after accidental audition
The rehearsal director said she "couldn't believe Libby is not a trained dancer"
A dream has come true for a Mackworth mum who has landed a starring role in a Derby ballet show after an accidental audition.
When Libby Kenyon turned up at Déda Dance Centre with six-month-old Darla-Bloom, she thought she had signed up for a free parent and child workshop.
It was only at the end of the session that the 33-year-old beauty and massage therapist realised she had the wrong end of the stick. She had just taken part in an audition with the touring dance company balletLORENT.
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Libby, who has not studied performance since completing GCSEs in dance and drama over 15 years ago, wowed the casting panel with her energy and easy manner.
They unanimously decided to offer her and baby Darla-Bloom paid roles in the family-friendly production of Rapunzel, which comes to Derby Theatre on 9 and 10 February 2024.
Paving the way for new opportunities
Libby said: "I loved dance and drama at school and took both at GCSE. But there wasn't much spare money for extra lessons when I was a child. I then had my first daughter when I was just 21 and life just got in the way.
"Though I love my work as a massage and beauty therapist, I have always promised myself I would find my way back to performance. I hope that taking to the stage at Derby Theatre will boost my confidence and set me on the path to other opportunities.
"I think I probably performed better because I didn't realise it was an audition. There was no pressure as I thought I was there just to enjoy moving to music with my baby. I definitely have a habit of ending up in funny situations and this has to be one of the best!"
"Couldn't believe she is not a trained dancer"
Debbi Purtill, rehearsal director, balletLORENT, who ran the audition alongside creative partner and lead dancer Gavin Coward, said: "We selected Libby to join the cast of Rapunzel as a paid performer because she had a really nice energy as she moved and she interacted well with the other dancers.
"I couldn't believe it when I later found out she was not a trained dancer."
Community cast
James McGillivray, education and projects manager, balletLORENT, said: "We have been touring Rapunzel since 2022 and in every town and city we have visited, we have recruited local people to join the cast.
"Our 'community cast', as we call it, has always included children from a local school, and dance artists who are returning to professional practice after becoming a parent. But this is the first time one of our returning professionals has turned out to be someone taking their first steps into the dance world. Libby is fantastic and we wish her every success."
About the show
Libby will be joined on stage at Derby Theatre by Sophie Loosemore and three-year-old Imogen and Naomi Moore and two-year-old Reeve. Thirteen pupils from Becket Primary School in Stockbrook complete the show's community cast.
They will appear in two magical dream sequences in the first half of the show, including a colourful maypole dance with ribbons and balloons.
balletLORENT’s Rapunzel is written by former poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy. In the modern retelling, flame-haired Rapunzel becomes entrapped in the tower with only a possessive witch and her pet creatures for company. A prince, drawn by the sound of her singing, attempts to rescue her, but they end up rescuing each other.
The show is narrated throughout by leading British actor Lesley Sharp, who is best known for her appearances in The Full Monty, Afterlife and Clocking Off.
*balletLORENT's Rapunzel is at Derby Theatre on Friday, 9 February 2024 at 6.30pm and on Saturday, 10 February 2024 at 2pm. Book tickets here.