They were chosen from audition last November to appear in a production of The Nutcracker going into the Connaught Theatre.

Taking part are: Isabel Summers, aged 10, Louise Ryrie School of Dance and Drama and Maidenbower Junior School; Lydia Clark, 13, The Louise Ryrie School and The Holy Trinity CE School; and Georgia Pickering, 11, The Louise Ryrie School of Dance and Drama and Maidenbower Junior School.

In all, 85 talented young dancers from the Worthing area were chosen to dance with English Youth Ballet over four performances on April 23, 24 and 25.

The principal roles of the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Prince are danced by professional dancers Julianne Rice-Oxley and Oliver Speers and Emma Lister and Lorien Slaughter with Matthew Powell and Alex Newton dancing the Arabian dance in Act 2.

English Youth Ballet general manager Bridget Hearne said: "Rehearsals have now begun at Boundstone Community College in Lancing where over weekends and the Easter holidays these dedicated young dancers will be put through their paces.

"In ten days they will have had professional dancers and choreographers from the company work around their talents in the parts that they are dancing and will be rehearsed to perfection.

"It sounds hard work and it is but the children get a tremendous feeling of achievement from the experience, make many new friends and certainly develop in self confidence. These children are aged between eight and 18 years and were chosen from an audition last November 9.

"English Youth Ballet put on these mammoth productions with professionally made scenery, props and costumes to match any other touring production and visit seven areas of the UK each year. It is a once in a lifetime experience for these children as it is rare for English Youth Ballet to return to the same area for several years."

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