NINE-year-old Isobel Thornton, from Berry Hill is currently rehearsing with English Youth Ballet (EYB), alongside five international principal dancers, for a professional production of the Nutcracker Suite and Ballet Études in Buckinghamshire in March.

Isobel, who attends Berry Hill Primary School, was one of those chosen form 200 hopeful dancers who auditioned in November to join the company on this production.

EYB company manager, Ben Garner, said: “Isobel is having an amazing time in rehearsals. The young dancers are treated like professional dancers – we work them hard but the results are fantastic.  They learn what the life of a professional dancer is like. They are living their dream and they just love it.”

Isobel attends the Suzanne Chatwin School of Dance in Broadwell and All Steps Dance Academy in Lydney.

Her father, Paul Thornton, told the Review: “We’re really proud of Izzy. She’s really determined. She loves ballet and spends all her spare time dancing. She found out about the auditions when she attended a summer school in Tring last year. She’s made some really good friends doing it.”

The double bill of the Nutcracker Suite and Ballet Études will be presented by English Youth Ballet at the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre on March 24 and 25.   The ballet will star international principal dancers – Adele Robbins, Monica Tapiador, Samantha Camejo, Brenden Bratulic and Steven Wheeler.