DANCERS from Cheshire will bring a classic ballet to life when they live their dream in September.

The youngsters will perform in English Youth Ballet's Swan Lake at the Regent Theatre, in Stoke on Trent, on September 18 and 19.

They include sisters 12-year-old Leah and 10-year-old Ella Hammersley, from Nantwich, and Crewe girls Bethany Edwards, 15, Rebecca Elsmore, 15, Lucy Hulse, 13, Teagan Owen, 12, Madison Pickersgill, 10, Lucy Smart, nine and sisters Ruby Pemberton, eight, and Olivia Pemberton, 14.

They will be dancing in a variety of roles, including swans, Tsar's nieces, cygnets, courtiers, ladies in waiting and Mariinsky Dancers.

Around 200 young hopefuls danced in two auditions, with 98 chosen to take part.

Janet Lewis, director and founder of English Youth Ballet (EYB), said: "EYB is all about providing extra performance experience to young dancers.

"It was lovely to see lots of enthusiasm."

Swan Lake will star international principal dancers Amy Drew, Adele Robbins, Monica Trapiador, Richard Read, Brenden Bratulic, Trevor Wood and Steven Wheeler with soloist and corps de ballet roles performed by the 98 young dancers.

Amy Drew said: "Rehearsals for Swan Lake are going very well in Staffordshire 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.

"I think that there is a unique and wonderful synergy that takes place because all the dancers learn so much from watching each other and from watching the professionals too.

"Our production of Swan Lake is such a dramatic ballet and I think that the young dancers really enjoy telling the story as it is very powerful and gripping."

The production is set in 1895 Imperial Russia and tells of love, rivalry, greed and murder.

The action takes place in the Mariinsky Theatre, where the Mariinsky Ballet are preparing for a production of Swan Lake, and in the sumptuous palace of the Tsar.

There are performances at 7.30pm on September 18 and 2.30pm and 7.30pm on September 19.

For tickets call 08448 717649 or visit atgtickets.com/stoke