Aspiring dancers in Bradford have been praised by top ballet director Janet Lewis.

One hundred dancers were wanted to join the English Youth Ballet in its ghostly full-length production of Giselle when it comes to St George’s Hall, from June 5 to 6, and auditions were held in the city to find them.

English Youth Ballet director Miss Lewis was leading the search for both male and female dancers aged eight to 18 of all levels of experience and said the standard of those who attended was “extremely high.”

Those who were lucky enough to get through have been offered the chance to rehearse with and dance alongside international professional principal dancers in Giselle this summer.

Miss Lewis said: “The ballet standard in Bradford was extremely high with all the senior girls presenting themselves well displaying lovely poise and technical ability. A young man, Barnaby Packham was outstanding, a real Billy Elliot who should go far.”

The successful dancers from the auditions will now go on to benefit from being coached and mentored by the professional dancers in 11 days of rehearsal out of school hours before the production opens in Bradford.