A Dorchester ballerina will be performing alongside the professionals as she stars in a production for one of the UK’s largest ballet companies.

Talented young dancer, Isabella Moore, 12, will be taking to the stage in Coppelia for the English Youth Ballet (EYB).

Isabella’s mum, Alice Moore said: "It's amazing what she has achieved. There are no words for how proud I am."

EYB perform full-length productions of classical ballets with professional dancers in the leading roles in regional theatres across the UK, giving young dancers outside London an opportunity to perform within a professional setting.

More than 200 young hopefuls attended auditions in June and Isabella was among the ‘finest dancers in the region’ offered a place in the corps de ballet.

Dorset Echo:

SHE'S COME SO FAR: Isabella, aged 3 in her very first tutu

She said: "I am really proud to have been cast in Coppelia. The rehearsal days are long but I am learning so much. I am loving the whole experience and can't wait to get on stage. I am so excited."

The production follows the escapades of the dreamy Franz and how he comically falls in love with a beautiful, life-like doll named, Coppélia. 

The young dancers will undertake a gruelling 60 hours of rehearsals for the production, which will be performed at the King's Theatre in Portsmouth in October.

Principal dancer in Coppelia, Amy Drew 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.”

When the production takes to the stage on October 20 and 21 the cast of Coppélia will have rehearsed for 60 hours at Trafalgar School.

Alice said: “It’s been eye-opening for her as it’s very demanding but she’s taken to it like a pro and I’m just really proud of her.”

"She never complains and it's given her that discipline and respect for working hard and being on time. She's already grown so much in confidence."

Isabella began dancing ballet in Dorchester when she was just three years old, under the tuition of Kathy Davies of the Kathy Davies Dance School.

Alice said: “I can remember walking passed a little dance shop in Dorchester when she was coming up to three and she spotted a tutu in the window and she just went mad. And that was that.”

"Now she's at secondary school we've talked about her future and all she wants to do it dance."

Not limiting her talents to ballet, Isabella now takes classes in tap, ballet and modern in Dorchester as well as ballroom and Latin classes in Yeovil.

In April, she came 7th in the country for ballroom dancing in the IDTA National Medallist Awards for the 11 to 12 category. 

Coppélia will be performed at the Kings Theatre Portsmouth on Friday, October 20 October and Saturday, October 21. For more information visit www.kingsportsmouth.co.uk.