DISCO dancer Shanley Booth has gone from head girl to showgirl.

The former head girl at Darwen Vale High School is living her lifelong dream and taking the Algarve by storm with her dazzling dance moves -- and she is loving every minute of it.

Her proud mum and dad, Mavis and Bill, live at Lower Darwen.

Bill said: "She always wanted to be a dancer and now she has got her wish. She is performing in this Wild West Show at a casino in Portugal and it has been such a success that they are taking the show on tour around the country's other resorts."

Shanley, 21, took her first steps to stardom at the Kathleen West School of Dancing in Blackburn, which became the Gillian Kay School of Dance.

When she left school she got a place at the prestigious Midland Academy of Dance and Drama -- known as MADD -- where she was also given voice coaching as well as dance classes.

After graduating from there, Shanley danced in clubs and discos in Nottingham and Derby before getting her big break and jetting off to Portugal.

Bill said:"At the moment she is loving it in Portugal. She was a bit apprehensive about going at first, but yesterday she rang to say she was sunbathing in 20 degree heat and having a great time."