Bolton's Billy Elliot Xander Bevan lives his dream in professional production of Swan Lake

Twelve-year-old Xander Bevan will be dancing the role of a Russian Stage hand and performing in the exciting Hungarian Dance in the third act of Swan Lake at the Regent Theatre in Stoke on Trent.

The English Youth Ballet (EYB) production will be staged on September 18 and 19.

EYB held a huge audition for the ballet at the Regent Theatre in May with nearly 200 young hopeful dancers turning up.

The atmosphere at the theatre, the nerves and the excitement were all electric, and director and founder of EYB Janet Lewis MBE was on the lookout for the hottest young dance talent to join her award-winning company.

The lucky dancers — including Xander from Atherton — heard they had been accepted on the day.

Miss Lewis said: “EYB is all about providing extra performance experience to young dancers. It was lovely to see lots of enthusiasm.

"EYB has helped many of the UK’s top talent springboard their training progress and careers into some of the world’s greatest ballet companies — including the Royal Ballet Company and English National Ballet.

"This is an amazing chance for Xander to be taught and dance alongside male principal dancers from around the world."

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

Principal dancer Miss Drew will be dancing the leading role of Odette and Odile (the White and Black Swans) and she is training the young cast in rehearsals. She said: "Rehearsals for Swan Lake are going very well and I am really enjoying getting to know the young dancers.

"It is wonderful having such keen young dancers all in the same place and working together."

All the soloist and corps de ballet roles in the production will be performed by 98 of the finest dancers, aged eight to 18, from the North West.

Tickets can be purchased at the Box Office 08448 717 649 or www.atgtickets.com/stoke