A TALENTED teen from Pewsey has been chosen for a key dancing role in an English Youth Ballet (EYB) production.

Erin Vincent, 13, who goes to Pewsey Vale School, will star in Sleeping Beauty at the Bournemouth Pavillion Theatre, on May 19-20.

Miss Vincent, who lives in Enford with her parents and goes to the Fitzgraham Academy of Dance in Chippenham, was chosen from more than 150 hopefuls who auditioned for the role in March.

"I was a little nervous at the audition but I'm really looking forward to the performance," she said.

Director Janet Lewis said that she was on the lookout for the hottest young dance talent to join her award-winning company for the production. The lucky dancers heard they had been accepted on the day. Miss Lewis said: “EYB is all about providing extra performance experience to young dancers.

"We saw a very pleasing standard at the audition and it was lovely to see lots of enthusiasm.”

Miss Vincent said: "Janet is an inspiration to us all - I feel honoured to be part of her troupe. When you dance for her you feel like a proper ballerina."

To reach out to a younger audience, Miss Lewis used adverts on social media. Now in it's 18th year, EYB employs up to 100 dancers for its national tour.

English Youth Ballet’s production has been updated from the original production and is set in the year 1896. When Aurora pricks her finger on her sixteenth birthday she is cursed to die by the wicked fairy – Carabosse.

The good Lilac Fairy cannot undo the curse but uses her power to change the curse to an eternal sleep. The Lilac Fairy puts Aurora and her family into a cryogenic sleep and the sleeping Aurora is taken to the Artic. 100 years later in the year 2012 a royal explorer – Prince Alexander – breaks the curse by awakening Aurora with a kiss.

Miss Lewis herself danced for the Royal Ballet Company and London Festival Ballet; with dancing greats such as Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev.

To buy tickets, call 0844 576 3000 or buy online at www.bhlivetickets.co.uk.