Talented Tipperary dancers shine in Irish National Youth Ballet's production of Coppélia
Representing county Tipperary in the cast are Ana Li Diggins from Clonmel and Cameron Byrne from Newport.
Two young dancers from Tipperary have earned coveted spots among the elite cast of the Irish National Youth Ballet's (INYB) spring production of Coppélia, joining over 40 performers at the Samuel Beckett Theatre, Trinity College Dublin next week.
Selected from a pool of 145 dancers who auditioned from across the island of Ireland for the 2024 season, these Tipperary dancers represent the pinnacle of ballet talent in the country.
Representing county Tipperary in the cast are Ana Li Diggins from Clonmel and Cameron Byrne from Newport.
Ana trains with Debbie Allen and Cameron trains with The Dance Academy.
Coppélia, with its captivating themes of love, enchantment, and magic, promises to transport audiences to a quaint European village where Swanhilda and Franz embark on a journey to unravel the mystery of Coppélia, a lifelike doll, in a tale filled with intrigue and deception
Artistic Director Lindsay Ashe-Browne expressed her excitement for the upcoming performances, stating, “We are thrilled to bring the timeless tale of Coppélia to the heart of Dublin city this spring. This production not only delights ballet enthusiasts but also welcomes newcomers with its engaging storyline and elegant choreography. We hope to see lots of people from the Premier County at the performances supporting Cameron and Ana.”
“To dance with the Irish National Youth Ballet, one must possess exceptional dancing talent, akin to elite athletes. The audition process is strict and competitive, with our dancers undergoing rigorous training to reach such a high performance level.”
Cameron was recently awarded a full scholarship to Boston Ballet School summer programme and will head off in a few weeks.
Cameron is hoping to start vocational training in September and is looking for private sponsorship to help make that a reality.
Ana’s talents have also been recognised and she has received a scholarship to attend the American Academy of Ballet Summer Course.
"We are very grateful for the support we receive from Arts Council Strategic Funding, ‘Friends of the Company', RTÉ Supporting the Arts and Dance World, who help us in our work in developing and promoting the best of dance talent on the island of Ireland and in bringing it to audiences."