Dancing with joy..... (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Dancing with joy.....

Lauren Humphries and Hollie Doell Picture Ref: 99838-94SWINDON AND PROUD OF IT: THE bright lights of the West End are beckoning a pair of Swindon dancers who are set to tread the boards in the capital's latest hit show.

After hours of queuing, Hollie Doell, 9, and Lauren Humphries, 11, beat off competition from more than 500 other dancers and landed themselves roles in the musical, Billy Elliot.

The girls, who both go to the Judith Hockaday school of Dance and Drama in Swindon are now looking forward to the rehearsals and the show.

Lauren, of Old Town, said: "I really like performing and I'm excited about being on the stage in the West End."

And Hollie, who is a Junior Associate at the Royal Ballet, is just as excited.

"I've been dancing since I was three and ballet is my favourite lesson and in the show we are in a ballet class so it should be really good."

They will be playing the roles of two of the girls in Billy's dance classes.

Lauren's mum, Emma, said that the pair didn't stop giggling the whole way through the audition.

"They were just chatting away the whole time.

"We did get a couple of disapproving looks from the other parents."

Hollie's mum, Jacqui agreed.

"The advert for the audition said they were looking for huge characters and I think that's why the girls were selected.

"We're both really proud of them."

Emma and Jacqui will be travelling back and forth with their daughters for the next six months.

Emma said: "It is a bit daunting, but knowing there is someone else from Swindon there makes it a bit easier.

"It was nice for them during the audition too. I think they just bounce off each other."

But with success comes some drawbacks. Both girls have been forced to pull out of their school plays because of their commitment to the musical.

And Hollie could even miss her own birthday party. "I've just booked her first disco and now we're not sure she'll be able to make it," said Jacqui.

The musical is based on the popular Stephen Daldry film of the same name, and features music by Elton John.

The show follows the story of Billy, a young boy from the north with a dream of becoming a world-class dancer, and the obstacles he encounters along the way.

Judith Hockaday, who teaches the girls, said she was very proud of them both.It is great news and they definitely deserve the parts," she said.

Stephanie Tye