A BACUP ballerina has tiptoed her way to a part in the latest production by the English Youth Ballet (EYB).

Amy Longstaff will dance alongside international ballet stars including Amy Drew, Adele Robbins and Monica Tapiador when the Giselle tour visits Yorkshire next month.

The 12-year-old, a pupil at Whitworth Community High School, was among almost 200 hopefuls aged eight to 18 who auditioned for a role with the renowned company.

Amy, who trains at Debra Simmons School of Dance, in Ramsbottom, will play a wood nymph in the show, which visits Bradford’s St George’s Hall on June 5 and 6.

Her mum Natalie, head teacher at Brittania Community Primary School, described the casting as the biggest achievement of Amy’s life.

Mrs Longstaff said: “She started dancing when she was seven and she’s very excited about this. Dancing is her life.

“She trains three times a week she is there for four or five hours.

“Before dancing she struggled with her confidence but it has done wonders for her belief.”

EYB director and founder Janet Lewis said she was on the lookout for the best young dance talent to join her award-winning company.

She 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.”

Principal dancer Amy Drew, who will play the role of Giselle, is training the young cast in rehearsals.

The Australian said: “Rehearsals for Giselle are going very well in Bradford.

“I enjoy getting to know the young dancers.

“It is wonderful having such talented young people all in the same place and working together.

“I think that there is a unique and wonderful synergy that takes place because all the dancers learn so much from watching each other and from watching the professionals too.”

EYB ballet mistress, Julianne Rice-Oxley, added: “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.”