A YOUNG girl wowed judges at an audition and will make her debut performance on stage alongside international professional dancers.

Vanessa Simpson, from Prudhoe, has been selected to perform in the English Youth Ballet’s (EYB’s) production of Coppélia at the Sunderland Empire on Friday, September 1 and 2.

Speaking about the process, Vanessa's mum Judith said: "We are very proud of Vanessa.

"She has been dancing since she was two-years-old at the Hazel Rayson Theatre Dance School, where I used to go.

"She took to dancing like a duck to water and hasn't stopped. She does all sorts of dancing so this really helps her ballet skills.

Hexham Courant:

"Her dance teacher was involved with EYB, so we like to think that she was inspired and encouraged to audition.

"After doing her audition, they asked all 60 or so dancers back on the stage and read out a few numbers who were not selected for the show.

"We did not know if this was a good or bad thing as no one said how many dancers they were looking for but thankfully, it was a good thing that Vanessa's number was not called as she got through.

"Ever since we found out she was going to be in the show, she hasn't stopped smiling and even after the audition, we raced to dance class to tell everyone the good news."

Hexham Courant:

There will be three performances of the humorous production that will star six international principal dancers and showcase the talents of 80 young dancers from the local area.
The story of Coppélia follows the escapades of the dreamy Franz and how he comically falls in love with a beautiful, life-like doll.

The doll – Coppélia – is created by the eccentric, yet mysterious inventor, Dr Coppelius. The hilarious plot thickens when Franz’s jealous lover, Swanhilda, takes her friends on an adventure into the spooky house of the mad inventor to confront her rival.