A talented group of young dancers will be twirling into the limelight alongside international ballet stars after wowing a judging panel with their graceful skills.

The seven starlets from Great Yarmouth, Gorleston and Acle were picked to star in the English Youth Ballet’s (EYB) production of Swan Lake, which is coming to Norwich’s Theatre Royal next month.

Evie Buckoke, 11, Hannah Dukes, 15, Aimee Hurren, eight, Chloe Round, 13, Eleanor Rowsell, ten, Tati-Star Patterson, 14, and Be-Be Patterson, 12, all scooped a place in the famous show after being selected from among 200 young hopefuls at an audition last November.

They will now join a clutch of other youngsters from across Norfolk and Suffolk to star in the professional production over two days.

The east coast youngsters, who are playing the parts of cygnets, swans, dancers and ladies in waiting, have been working with the show’s principal dancers in intensive rehearsals.

The company’s principal ballerina Julianne Rice Oxley said there was “wonderful team spirit” among the local cast.

She added: “The young dancers we are working with in Norfolk have great energy and attack.

“Working in a professional environment gives the students a unique insight into life in a ballet company. They are so lucky, I wish there had been something like EYB when I was training.

“I ­feel very privileged to be a principal with EYB as I get to work with some of the UK’s most talented young dancers. I find them incredibly inspiring.”

Aimee, a pupil at Wroughton Junior School - who alongside Evie, Hannah, Tati-Star and Be-Be trains at Potters Theatre School - is dancing the roles of both a tsar’s niece and a Neapolitan dancer.

She said: “I have been dancing for quite a long time. It is one of my favourite things. The thing I am most looking forward to about English Youth Ballet is going on a big stage.”

Chloe is a student at The Dancers School while Eleanor studies at the Heather Millan school in Norwich.

? Swan Lake is at the Theatre Royal on March 7 and 8. For more information and to book online visit www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk