Five talented dancers from St Albans will fulfil their dreams next month after being cast in a professional adaptation of Sleeping Beauty.

Aged between 11 and 14, the group will join the 90-strong cast that will perform at Wycombe's Swan Theatre from August 9 until September 10.

They are: Mausam Aswani, Lily Kennedy, Victoria Lees, all 14, Alessia Lobban, 10, and 12-year-old Jasmine Ninkovic.

All five girls attend dance schools in St Albans.

The play is being put on by the prestigious English Youth Ballet (EYB), with the five girls having gone through a highly-competitive audition programme.

Lily Kennedy will be among the dancers in the productionLily Kennedy will be among the dancers in the production (Image: Ben Garner)

Lily said: "I began dancing at three, because I was already twirling round the house so my mum thought I might enjoy a bit of tuition!

"I love being on stage and knowing that I get to put all my practice to use and show all my friends and family what I've been working so hard to achieve is a very rewarding experience.

"Another of my best feelings about being a dancer is when devising choreography. I really enjoy being able to use inspiration from different classes and choreographers to create and perform something of my own."

The girls will get their first taste of the life of a professional dancer, with 60 hours of gruelling rehearsals before the magic of opening night.

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EYB principal Ann Wall, who will also be performing in the production, said: "Being part of EYB is an amazing experience for any young dancer and I feel privileged to be a principal dancer with the company. 

"I enjoy teaching and coaching all the young dancers and I see some of the most talented young dancers in the country. 

"I feel honoured to be a role model to the dancers and help give them an insight into the world of professional ballet. 

"Dancing with EYB is an experience that will stay with the young dancers forever.”

Director of EYB, Janet Lewis, added: “English Youth Ballet’s aim is to provide performance experience to aspiring young dancers in beautiful venues close to where they live. The young dancers get to experience what life is like in a professional ballet company."