A YOUNG Ilkley girl is taking the world of dance by storm - despite having attended her first ballet class only three years ago.

Eleven-year-old Harriet Fairhurst, of Regency Court, was selected to perform in the highly acclaimed European Ballet's production of Coppelia.

Harriet, a pupil at All Saints Primary, is one of seven children from the Dorothy Stevens Ballet and Theatre School, Halifax, to be chosen for the touring production.

Harriet, who has already appeared in a National Youth Ballet production, is looking forward to performing alongside first class international dancers.

Mrs Jackie Fairhurst, Harriet's mother, said: "It was a wonderful opportunity to perform with a professional dance company, Harriet was so excited and could hardly wait.

"It's a long slog for her to go to dance class three times a week after school but she copes really well. This makes it all worthwhile."

Mrs Fairhurst, who proudly watched the one-off performance, said: "It was lovely. Harriet was very nervous of course but it was very good."