Ballet leaps into Littlehampton

As part of the first ballet company to take to the Windmill's relatively small stage, the dancers made great use of the space available and put on a spectacular show of athleticism and elegance.

Copplia is based around four central characters '” two sweethearts Franz and Swanilda, doll maker Dr Copplius and his finest creation a beautiful doll called Copplia.

When Franz shows an interest in Copplia, not knowing she is a doll, Swanilda gets jealous and with two friends sneaks into the doll makers shop where the dolls come alive and dance.

When Dr Copplius arrives back Swanilda hides and then pretends to be Copplia and come to life to dance.

The eight dancers, Emily Pimm, Oliver Eastwood, Edward Fallon, Amy Doughty, James Foster, Christopher James, Elizabeth Peck and Lauren Poulton, showed amazing energy in both their dancing and their acting.

But is was Emily Pimm's Swanilda who stole the show '” she danced as if the word graceful had been created just for her.

Speaking after the show, Yvonne Williams, the company's founder, told the Gazette: "I thought they did a brilliant job on such a small stage.

"It's a credit to Darius James our artistic director who adapted the performance to the space.

"The audience's reaction was great, they really seemed to enjoy it."