Molly ready for return to the West End

Buy photos » Molly Roberts arrives at the Royal Opera House. (s)

A YOUNG dancer and choreographer from Worcester captivated an audience in the West End as she performed her own solo piece inspired by her autistic brother.

Molly Roberts, 16, was chosen as the only soloist at the National Dance Teachers Association conference, Making it Happen, which was held at the Royal Opera House in London earlier this month.

She performed 'I am Ethan' which she choreographed as a participant of last year’s Dancefest Creates programme, a choreographic project for 14 to 21 year olds run by Dancefest.

It is a highly emotive piece inspired by Molly's relationship with her younger brother Ethan, who is autistic and has learning disabilities. It expresses, through movement and signing, a mixture of emotions, highlighting frustration, happiness, sorrow and confusion.

The Christopher Whitehead Language College pupil said: “It was a great honour to be chosen to perform my solo at the Royal Opera House in London’s West End. The piece is very personal to me but the audience really connected with it and appreciated the technical elements.”

Molly has been dancing with Dancefest, the county's dance development organisation, since 2006, working in styles from Contemporary to Street.

And she is set to make a return to the Royal Opera House next year after beating off strong competition from across England to be chosen by YDE Young Creatives to be part of a project which culminates in a performance at the venue in May.

Dancefest is currently accepting applications for the next round of Creates, working towards a performance on March 3 at the Swan Theatre. To find out more about opportunities for young dancers and choreographers visit www.dancefest.co.uk

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