A YOUNG dancer has been picked by the English Youth Ballet to perform in its latest production.

Fourteen-year-old Sarah May is spending this week performing at the Gordon Craig Theatre, in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, in the prestigious ballet company's tenth anniversary production of Giselle.

It is the first time that Sarah, who attends Our Lady's Convent School in Abingdon, has performed in a professional production.

She said: "It has been really good. It's so exciting being part of it. Rehearsals are quite long, but it's definitely worth it. We do six hours regularly at weekends and during half-term we had an intensive five days of it.

"It's so much fun. It's a wonderful experience."

Sarah, of Rippington Court, Abingdon, has been taught dance at the Judy Tompsett School of Dance since she was five years old.

She has been practising for the performance since the beginning of February.

Her mother Carolyn said: "This has been a fantastic experience for Sarah. She has worked really hard and has particularly enjoyed working alongside professional dancers."