DREAMS have come true for five of Kidderminster’s top young dancers after they successfully auditioned for parts in the English Youth Ballet’s (EYB) production of The Sleeping Beauty.

Katie Baggott, 11, Isabel Barlow, 11, Alice Barlow, 11, Chloe Edwards, 10, and Leah Gittins, 9, came through an audition in June this year which attracted 250 young hopefuls.

The quintet will appear in three performances of an adaptation of the 19th century ballet at the Grand Theatre in Wolverhampton.

All the young dancers in the cast will perform alongside the EYB international principal artists and will gain an insight into what life is like as a professional ballet dancer.

They are currently in a 10-day rehearsal process for the show at Coppice Performing Arts School which includes a complex timetable of different rehearsals running simultaneously in three studios at the school.

The ballet is gradually pieced together and at the end of each day the whole company gathers together in the main studio to show what has been learnt that day.

Amy Drew, principal ballerina, said: “The young dancers we are working with are doing so well.

“Working in a professional environment gives the students a unique insight into life in a ballet company.

“They so lucky – I wish there had been something like EYB when I was training.

“I feel very privileged to be a principal with the EYB as I get to work with some of the UK’s most talented young dancers – I find them incredibly inspiring.”

The ballet runs from September 19 to 20 with two evening performances at 7.30pm and a Saturday matinee performance at 2.30pm.

Tickets, costing between £13.50 and £20, can be bought from the box office by calling 01902 429212 or by visiting grandtheatre.co.uk