BALLET dancers performed for children’s ward patients at Southend Hospital.

Stars of the English Youth Ballet, which begins a two-night run at the town’s Cliffs Pavilion tonight, entertained children in the hospital’s Neptune ward with an excerpt from Coppelia.

As a prelude to the show, they held a workshop, during which they talked about a dancer’s life, demonstrated barre work and introduced the children to costumes and footware used in the show.

Lisa Kawa-Akenbo, senior healthcare play specialist, said that the visit had acted as a tonic for the young audience.

She said: “Being in hospital can be a very stressful and frightening experience for children and young people, so the workshop was a fantastic distraction for our patients.

For a while, they were able to forget about being in hospital and just have an enjoyable, fun time.”

Scott Butterworth, spokesman for the English Youth Ballet, said it was not just the audience who found the experience stimulating.

He said: “The dancers found it personally very rewarding. They got a great deal of gratification from the eager and often excited reaction of the children, and also their parents and staff who attended.

“And they loved the chance to show everyone what a day in the life of a dancer is all about.”

The company’s dancers are also helping to fundraise for the children’s ward appeal. Roles will be reversed when Neptune ward staff appear on stage with the dancers at the curtain call.

Mr Butterworth said: “The young people involved in the production get a real kick out of collecting money through our bucket appeal in the theatre. Everyone has a great time and everyone benefits.”

The hospital performance stems from English Youth Ballet’s policy of helping young people wherever the opportunity occurs, within the dance community or beyond.

Mr Butterworth said: “Janet Lewis, our director, is passionate about helping young people.”

Coppelia is at the Cliffs tonight and tomorrow at 7.30pm, with a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm. For tickets, call the box office on 01702 351135