RAFFAELLA Covina will be thinking of much more than her ballet steps when she hits the stage in Coppelia – she will be thinking of her dad who died when she was just six.
Raffaella, 13, has won the part of the Coppelia Doll in the show being staged by English Youth Ballet at the Connaught Theatre, Worthing, at the end of April.
The teenager, from Goring, is a pupil at the Jean Butterworth School of Dancing in Tarring, where she started ballet at the age of three.
Raffaella Covina will play the Coppelia Doll
Her proud mum Anne-Marie Coe, a teacher at Our Lady of Sion, said: "She was extremely excited and to get that part was totally unexpected. She can't wait to start rehearsals.
"I am extremely proud of her. She's worked so hard and hasn't had an easy life.
"She lost her dad – Giuseppe Covina – to leukaemia when she was just six.
"She has pulled herself through and he would have been absolutely amazed at what she is doing.
"She still thinks about him a lot and I'm sure he will be in the back of her mind when she is performing."
Young Raffaella and her father
Raffaella was also this week auditioning for a place at the Tring Arts Educational School in Hertfordshire.
A total of 14 youngsters from Worthing have been given places in Coppelia.
It is the first time English Youth Ballet has been to Worthing and auditions at the theatre in November were held to find 100 youngsters to join the cast.
Those successful from Worthing range in age from nine to 15.
Bridget Hearne, general manager, said: "This is a very exciting experience for these young dance students as they are working with professionals from London.
Rehearsals for the ballet, which will hit the stage on Thursday, April 26, Friday, April 27, and twice on Saturday, April 28, are taking place at Boundstone Community College in Lancing.
The successful candidates from Worthing are:
Amelia Clark, 11, Ben Cooper, 11, Lauren Cooper, nine, and Lucy Bragg, 10, who attend the Jean Butterworth School of Dancing and Thomas A'Becket Middle School.
Amber Hawkins, 11, of the Hollis School of Dance and Drama and Orchards Community Middle School
Bryony Smith, 12, of the Jean Butterworth School of Dancing and Davison High School
Saffron Roberts, 11, of the Nicola Miles Theatre School and West Park School
Abigail McClumpha, 10, of the Jean Butterworth School of Dancing and the Vale School
Charlotte Jones, 11, of the Beach Theatre School and Chesswood Middle School.
Raffaella Covina, 13, from the Jean Butterworth School of Dancing and Our Lady of Sion School.
Robert Howse, 15, from Nicola Miles Theatre School and Chatsmore High School.
Rebecca Westlake, 17, from Suzanne Logan School.
Toria Warner, 11, from the Jean Butterworth School of Dancing and St John Baptist Primary School.
Megan Davey, nine, from Suzanne Logan School and West Park Middle School.
- For tickets to the show, call the box office on 01903 206206
The full article contains 495 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
