A talented young dancer has been selected to be part of the cast of English Youth Ballet’s (EYB’s) Nutcracker.

Rose is from Penstrowed and she is dancing as a snowflake and a sweet in the professional production.

She was selected from more than 180 hopeful dancers during a big virtual audition in July last year. The young dancers were sent a short audition class to learn and then film themselves performing.

The 11-year-old girl said ballet is a "big part of her life".

She said: "Dance has built my confidence, and inspired my creativity. The EYB experience is amazing, I am excited to attend every class and have made lots of new friends.

"Ballet is a big part of my life but in the future I would like to be a midwife."

The Ysgol Dafydd Llwyd pupils is a gifted musician and enjoys training at Footlights Dance School in Shrewsbury.

Last year, the cast were devastated when their performances of Swan Lake were cancelled due to the pandemic.

Luckily, the performances have been successfully rescheduled and they are excited to finally getting the chance to perform alongside international professional dancers in English Youth Ballet’s Nutcracker at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre on September 3 and 4.

Janet Lewis MBE, EYB Director, said: "“The cast have shown great enthusiasm and excitement in their Nutcracker rehearsals. The children are obviously so pleased to be back dancing again and taking part in a ballet that they love.

"Since the past year of lockdowns with the many restrictions, they are displaying a sense of freedom that is boosting their self-confidence and wellbeing. The cast are working hard not only on their ballet technique but on their performance quality that expresses the part they are dancing.

"The incentive is to be back performing again in the theatre.”