TEN talented dancers from Kendal and Carnforth areas have been selected by the English Youth Ballet to perform in a professional double bill.

The girls will take to the stage at The Sands Centre in Carlisle this weekend and feature in productions of Aurora's Wedding and Ballet Études.

The ballet will star international principal dancers Philip Tunstall, Monica Tapiador, Samantha Camejo, Clair Corruble and Oliver Speers. All the soloist and corps de ballet roles in the production will be performed by 90 of the finest dancers, aged eight to 18 from the local area.

English Youth Ballet (EYB) held a big audition for the ballet at The Sands Centre in April. More than 150 young hopefuls turned up to the two auditions held on the stage.

Miss Janet Lewis MBE, director and founder of EYB, said the atmosphere at the theatre, the nerves and the excitement were all electric. Dancers were told whether they had been successful or not on the day.

“EYB is all about providing extra performance experience to young dancers," said Miss Lewis. "We saw a very pleasing standard at the audition and it was lovely to see lots of enthusiasm.

"EYB has helped many of the UK’s top talent springboard their training progress and careers into some of the world’s greatest ballet companies – including the Royal Ballet Company and English National Ballet."

Rehearsals have been taking place at the William Howard School at Brampton. The girls have been coached by Oliver Speers, one of EYB’s principal dancers. He has previously danced with the Royal Ballet Company and Ballet Capitole du Toulouse.

The successful girls are Holly Brown, 17, of Troutbeck Bridge; Katie Cobley, 13, Middleton; Lily Cooper, 10, Kendal; Jordan Crewes, 18, Meathop; Kelsey Greenbank, 13, Ingleton; Kelsey Hamer, 12, Priest Hutton; Aria Joyce, 11, Kendal; Phoebe Malcolm, 10, Kendal; Emily Parkins, 13, Lambrigg and Eilidh Scanlan, 13, Kendal.

Tickets can be purchased at the Box Office 01228 633766 or online www.thesandscentreco.uk