YOUNG ballet dancers from the region are performing with international stars after successfully auditioning for roles.

English Youth Ballet is putting on Giselle at the Tyne Theatre and Opera House, in Newcastle, from September 9-10.

The ballet will star international principal dancers including Adele Robbins, Amy Drew, Monica Tapiador, Oliver Speers, Richard Read, Brenden Bratulic and Trevor Wood.

More than 250 young dancers auditioned for roles in April.

Among those to be given roles are County Durham dancers Laura Haubold and Claire Mitchell, both 14 from Durham, Caitlin Wall, 14, from Sherburn Village, and Paul Warwick, 14, from Catchgate, near Stanley.

Summer Fenwick, 13, from Heighington, Emma Hawman, 11, from Ferryhill, Lola Johnson, 9, from Chester-le-Street, Leia Koso-Kirk, 11, from Durham, Emily Newport, 16, from Coundon and Maisie Smillie,9, from Ferryhill also have roles.

Amy Drew, one of the company’s principal dancers said: “The young dancers are treated like professional dancers during rehearsals – we work them hard but the results are fantastic.

“They learn what the life of a professional dancer is like. They are living their dream and they just love it.”