A handful of local dancers will be joining Ballet Jorgen on the Living Sky Casino stage this weekend for the beloved story of Anne of Green Gables - The Ballet.

Seven ballerinas with the Dance Studio of Swift Current are eagerly awaiting tomorrow, when they'll meet with the company and begin two days of rehearsals before the big night. 

Melissa Wallace, owner and artistic director of the studio, said the opportunity arose through the touring ballet's local participant outreach program.

"It's really exciting," she said. "We've had this opportunity multiple different times when they've come to Swift Current, and we've had students who are now some of our teachers who have been in the local participant role."

Ballet Jorgen's Anne of Green Gables is the first time the story has been authorized for creation as a full-length ballet. The company had its outreach program in mind when creating it, with the intention of ample local roles to be filled. 

There are up to twelve dancers from around the Swift Current area that will be joining for the Saturday evening performance, including seven students from The Dance Studio, aged nine to 16 -- Pacey Barber, Brynn Cashin, Addyson Parnwell, Victoria Pegg, Sara Savoy, Jayne Service and Karina Spur.

Friday will consist of students being assigned their roles and beginning to learn the choreography. Dancers spend the majority of Saturday with Ballet Jorgen professionals for stage rehearsal, costume fittings, and then hair and makeup before the performance begins. 

"The character roles that they have are quick and easy to learn compared to having to learn an entire routine," Wallace said. "There's some dancing, they're also acting and interacting with the professional dancers from the company while they're on stage."

The opportunity allows young artists a taste of what professional dancing is like, from preparation to performing. 

Tickets are sold out for the show, but dancers will chasse onto the stage on Saturday night at the Living Sky Casino.