TALENTED young dancer Emily Morley is to appear in a major ballet at the Regent Theatre in Stoke on Trent on March 1 and 2.

Emily, 14, from Holmes Chapel, is one of 100 young dancers who were chosen to perform in the English Youth Ballet production of Giselle, one of the world’s favourite romantic ballets.

The ballet will star international principal dancers, with the soloist and corps de ballet roles being performed by 100 of the finest dancers, aged eight to 18, from the local area.

Emily attends Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School and the X Academy School of Performing Arts at Crewe.

Emily’s mum said Joanne said: “We found out on the night of the auditions that Emily was one of those to be chosen for the production.

“I was just absolutely thrilled, and it’s such an amazing opportunity for her.

“It was the first big audition she has ever done, and she was very calm although she really wanted to get in.”

Emily’s parents Joanne and Peter will be going to watch her perform in Giselle, along with Emily’s brother James and her grandparents.

Emily performed with the X Academy last year in ‘Can You Dance?’ at the Liverpool Echo Arena.

English Youth Ballet held a major audition for the ballet at the Regent Theatre in November, with more than 150 young hopeful dancers turning up to the two auditions, which were held on the stage.

Director and founder of EYB – Miss Janet Lewis – was on the lookout for the hottest young dance talent to join her award-winning company for the production, and 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 today and it was lovely to see lots of enthusiasm.”

EYB has helped many of the UK’s top talent springboard their training progress and careers into some of the world’s greatest ballet companies – including the Royal Ballet Company and English National Ballet.

Rehearsals for the ballet are taking place at St Thomas More Catholic Academy in Stoke.

Monica Tapiador is one of EYB’s principal dancers – she previously danced with the La Scala Ballet Company and English National Ballet, and she coaches the young dancers in rehearsals.

She said: “The young dancers are treated like professional dancers during rehearsals – 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.”

The young cast will rehearse for just 10 days for the production.

The ballet is being staged on Friday, March 1 at 7.30pm and on Saturday, March 2 at 2.30pm and 7.30pm.

Tickets can be purchased at the box office on 0844 871 7649 or online at atgtickets.com/regent-theatre