An 11-year-old boy is to follow in the footsteps of his twin sister by making his Royal Opera House debut.
Harry Pickering will take to the stage in the Royal Ballet’s production of Alice in Wonderland on Friday. It comes after his twin Annabel made her debut at the same venue in a production of La Sylphide. Their mother Jacqui, who is a ballet teacher, said she was “very proud” of the pair and revealed that Harry only decided to take up ballet seriously a year ago.
The twins’ elder sister Francesca, 17, is a ballet student at the Harid Conservatory in Florida. She is flying back this week to see Harry’s performance.
Mrs Pickering, from Guildford, said: “Francesca and Annabel have been doing ballet since they were about three. Harry started when he was five, but he was not really interested until a year ago. He has always been into his golf and football like other boys and was reluctant to tell his friends at school. But they’ve been really good about it and actually think it’s quite cool he’s going to be appearing on stage in Covent Garden.”
Annabel, who was Little Girl in La Sylphide, has been giving Harry some tips as he prepares for his role as a dancing hedgehog.
She said: “I think he will have a wonderful time dancing in the ballet and I am really proud of him.” They attend Greenfield School in Woking and spend Saturdays with the Royal Ballet.
