FIVE young dancers from a Keighley theatre school have won coveted roles in an English Youth Ballet production.

The quintet, from Sara Packham Theatre School, was chosen after hugely competitive auditions.

Willow Crowther, 11, Bethany Loftus, ten, Lucy Miller and Sasha Wilkinson, both nine, and eight-year-old Isla Town will perform alongside international professional dancers in Swan Lake at the Victoria Theatre, Halifax, on June 7 and 8.

A spokesperson for English Youth Ballet says: "This is a superb achievement by these five talented young dancers from the Sara Packham Theatre School.

"They will be part of an 80-strong cast and are currently experiencing the lives of professional dancers in rehearsals. They are super excited."

Willow, a pupil at Kildwick Primary School, took up dancing four years ago.

She said: "I wanted to learn how to dance as I’d seen lots of shows at the theatre and was keen to have a go myself. I also wanted to choose a hobby that was fun, and would help me make more friends and keep healthy.

"I love learning new steps and mastering them after practising a lot! And it’s great being on the stage – the best feeling ever. Last Christmas I performed at Bradford Alhambra in the pantomime on my birthday.

"I’m really excited to learn at English Youth Ballet and become a better ballet dancer. This is my first proper ballet and I can’t wait to watch and learn from the older dancers and the principals too. I love being part of a show and watching it all come together. It’s lots of fun and feels really good.

"I love all types of dancing, and really enjoy acting too.

"Last year I won a junior choreography competition at my dance school and I was also chosen as head girl of my team at the Alhambra Sunbeams, which I was really proud of."

English Youth Ballet principal Ann Wall, who stars as Odette – the white swan – in the production, says: "I wish I had danced with English Youth Ballet when I was young. The dancers learn so much about performance skills and the artistry of ballet.

"As a principal dancer I get to dance challenging and iconic roles, teach the young dancers and see them progress. The sets and costumes in this production are superb and the whole experience is one the young dancers, and audiences, will never forget!"