ENGLISH Youth Ballet are looking for young dancers from across the region to appear in a major new performance of The Nutcracker.

The company's principal choreographers are Bransgore-based Ursula Hageli and Richard Slaughter who say they are looking for up to 100 dancers, aged between eight and 18.

The English Youth ballet aims to give opportunities to up-and-coming dancers from outside London to perform full-length classical works within a professional setting. The show will be staged at the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil in May next year with rehearsals being held during the Easter holidays and at weekends during April.

There will be auditions for both junior and seniors to be held at The Octagon on Saturday, January 12,

To register interest and receive an audition for, dancers need to telephone 020 8691 2806 or write to Janet Lewis, Director, English Youth Ballet, 85 Brockley Grove, London SE14 1DZ.