NINE young ballet stars are set to realise their dancing dreams when they take to the stage in a lavish adaptation of Sleeping Beauty next month.

The young performers from across the Stourbridge area fought off competition from more than 250 hopefuls to win roles in the English Youth Ballet show running at The Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton, from September 19 to 20.

Selected at an audition in June, the dancers will appear alongside EYB's international principal artists following an intensive ten-day rehearsal process at Coppice Performing Arts School.

The lucky line-up comprises Kingswinford youngsters - Mia Andrews, aged ten, who attends the Marilyn Harris School of Dance; Alisha Stephenson, aged 13, a pupil at the Rachel Dixon School of Dance; Faye Hyde, aged 12, (Splitz Dance Academy); Alicia Stokes, aged ten, and Amy Stringer, aged ten, who both attend the Gwynne School of Dance; plus Bethany Hickman, aged 17, from Wordsley, (Stourbridge Dance Academy); Victoria Jackson, aged 15, from Pedmore, (Siobhan Collins-McCarthy Dance Academy); and Anuschka Sobainsky, aged nine, from Hagley, and Charlie Howell, aged 16, from Amblecote, who both attend the Karen Yates School of Dance.

The production aims to give up and coming young ballet stars an experience they will never forget and a glimpse into what life would be like as a professional ballet ballet dancer.

Kidderminster College student Charlie, who will be performing as one of Carabosse’s Monsters in Act I and in the athletic Hop-o-my-Thumb boys' dance in Act III, said: "I am looking forward to really improving my ballet with the English Youth Ballet - one day I would like to work in the West End.

"I started dancing after I went to see a show and I absolutely loved it and have been doing it ever since. My inspiration is my teacher - Karen Yates."

Australian principal ballerina Amy Drew said: “The young dancers 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."

Shows will run at 7.30pm on Friday September 19 and at 2.30pm and 7.30pm on Saturday September 20.

Tickets are available on 01902 429212 or online from www.grandtheatre.co.uk