Youngsters stage show with the Royal Ballet outside Doncaster museum

But that was exactly what happened for little Bonnie Carpenter when she and a handful of dancers from two well-known borough dance schools visited Cusworth Hall.

Bonnie, as well as mum, Liz, and older sister Emily, aged 10, was among enthusiastic amateurs lining up with top professionals, from both DN4 Dance and Theatre, up until recently based in Hexthorpe; and Arabesque Dance School, based in Balby. From DN4 they were joined by Chelsey Parker, Chloe Rose-Monks, Susanne Hardy and Rebecca Threapleton, and Chloe Carol Anne Foster.

They were invited to the museum to take part in a scheme called Doncaster Dancing, which involves Royal Ballet dancer and Doncaster lass Charlotte Tonkinson, originally from Armthorpe.

She performed sections of the ballet Romeo and Juliet, with another Royal Ballet dancer, Joseph Aumeer, and the dancers from the two Doncaster schools.

Ange Hardy, who runs DN4, said her dancers had been practicing their moves on a video conferencing computer program before the performance, because they had not been able to meet up because of lockdown.

She said: “The younger ones were so focused on the day, and were really excited to be taking part. The older ones thought it was so prestigious, because they realised exactly who the Royal Ballet are.

"We were so thrilled to be taking part, and they did so well, especially learning it over the computer.”

"Everything has been shut down for such a long time that it was a great feeling to be able to perform again in front of people and as a team.”

The two schools performed Dances of the Night, the scene where Romeo meets Juliet. They also created their own routines based on lockdown and things they missed, or learnt to do. For the DN4 girls, that included showing how they felt about reading a lot – by the medium of dance!

Rachel Tarantiuk, joint principal at Arabesque Dance School, brought 15 dancers from her school, aged between eight and 10. She said they loved it.

"After only doing things on video conferencing until two weeks ago, this had been something to really look forward to,” she said. “Our school had been at the theatre the day before lockdown getting ready for our show at the Dearne Playhouse. We’re still waiting to do that show. It was supposed to have an ‘around the world’ theme.

"Perhaps we should try doing our show outside after having doing this as it worked so well.

"It was quite an inspiration for the girls to see Charlotte. They were all having their pictures taking with the Royal Ballet dancers, distanced of course.

Doncaster Dancing is a virtual dance celebration, with the Royal Ballet working with Cast and Doncaster Council. Residents, primary schools, sports clubs, care homes and dance schools are taking part over three weeks. It will culminate in a film.

Last year the Royal Opera House announced a partnership with Doncaster through Doncaster Creates – Doncaster’s culture development programme. It was due to include a Royal Ballet performance at Cast. Lockdown meant that was postponed.