TWO young stars from Hexham have been selected to join the prestigious English Youth Ballet.

Amelia Dalton (12) and Phoebe Forster (17) are set for their debut performance in the double bill production of Sleeping Beauty-Aurora’s Wedding and Ballet Études at The Sands Centre in Carlisle this weekend.

The company is made up of both professional principals and young trainee dancers from the local area.

Amelia and Phoebe were among 150 young dancers who attended auditions in Carlisle in April, where director and founder Miss Janet Lewis MBE, was on the lookout for the most talented young dancers to join her award-winning company.

“The thing I am looking forward to is the costumes,” Amelia said, “but mostly, I am looking forward to the performance itself, which I think will be really exciting and fun.

“I don’t know what I’d like to do in the future yet, but I will always carry on dancing, whatever I do.”

Phoebe added: “I am most looking forward to being able to perform with everyone, but also having the chance to develop my ballet skills and technique through the English Youth Ballet.

“In the future, I hope to complete a degree in physiotherapy and eventually become a physiotherapist for a ballet company.”

The performance will be at The Sands Centre, Carlisle, tomorrow at 7.30pm and Saturday at 2.30pm and 7.30pm.

For tickets, call (01228) 633766 or visit: www.thesandscentre.co.uk.