PERFORMING live with superstar Dua Lipa at the Brit Awards 2019 has been hailed as the pinnacle of a Winsford dancer's career.

Carli Trigg joined a group of dancers to accompany Calvin Harris, Rag'n'Bone Man and Sam Smith as they staged a medley of hits in front of millions of TV viewers.

The 27-year-old said: "It was unbelievable. It is the biggest thing I have ever done!

"I was trying not to let myself get too distracted with nerves, how royalty was watching and it was live in front of millions of people on TV. I said to myself: 'You have been training for this your whole life, it is nothing to be scared of'.

"I had to get on stage while Sam Smith was still singing. I could feel the lights and the sound of the audience. It was huge.

"I thought wow!"

Carli auditioned with more than 200 dancers for the opportunity of a lifetime to perform in front of stars and celebrities at the biggest night of the year in British music.

The contemporary dancer was invited to showcase her skills as she improvised with 100 dancers for four hours. Cameras captured their every move as choreographers scrutinised their performance.

"It was quite overwhelming," said Carli, a former pupil at Leftwich High School. "It was all freestyle, you just had to make it up as you went along."

Five days before the show, she was ecstatic when she found out she had been chosen.

After three days of intense rehearsals she made her Brit debut.

"It was incredible!" said Carli, who danced with an energetic team of dancers, all dressed pink and wearing sunglasses.

"It didn't feel it was real until after I'd actually danced. I saw lots of stars including Little Mix, Hugh Jackman and Jack Whitehall.

After studying dance at college, Carli moved to Los Angeles for two years and worked alongside top choreographers.

"It was amazing," said freelance dancer Carli, who has recorded music videos and worked in TV and on live events.

She danced in a new Warner Brothers film of Pokémon Detective Pikachu and appeared in the BBC drama Peaky Blinders before she went to America.

Carli teaches contemporary dancing to children at Brio Leisure in Northwich every Wednesday evening and is keen to encourage young dancers to follow their dreams.

"I just want to put out the message that no matter what you want you can achieve it," said Carli, who hopes to develop her own choreography and eventually stage her own show.

"I really love working with young people and helping them to build their confidence.

"I feel coming from a small town, people don't realise they can go and do big things.You can go and do whatever you want."