A Thornbury ballet dancer has been cast in the English Youth Ballet’s Nutcracker.

Sofiya Perrigo, 12, will perform alongside international professional dancers at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre next month.

The Castle School student is performing the roles of a Teenage Girl and a Spanish Dancer.

"I started ballet and tap when I was three-years-old and I preferred tap at first because of the noise the shoes made," said Sofiya, who now concentrates firmly on ballet and dances with the Bristol Russian Ballet School.

"I love the exhilaration of performing on stage best but I also enjoy challenging myself to be better and stronger in every class I do.

"I really look forward to each rehearsal because I’m learning a lot about performing and I get to dance for quite a few hours, and I love dancing for as many hours as possible.

"I’ve also met some lovely new friends. I’m really excited to be dancing in a big theatre."

The show's director Jane Lewis MBE added: "The cast have shown great enthusiasm and excitement in their rehearsals. The children are obviously so pleased to be back dancing again and taking part in a ballet that they love.

"Since the past year of lockdowns with the many restrictions, they are displaying a sense of freedom that is boosting their self-confidence and wellbeing.

"The cast are working hard not only on their ballet technique but on their performance quality that expresses the part they are dancing. The incentive is to be back performing again in the theatre."

Sofiya has also recently been accepted onto Elmhurst Ballet School's extended young dancer programme.