A TALENTED dancer is en pointe to achieve her ballet ambitions after being picked to star in a professional production.
Helen Turner will be appearing in an English Youth Ballet (EYB) production.
The Canon Slade pupils is described as a 'extremely talented dancer' and was selected following a competitive video audition earlier this year.
Thirteen-year-old Helen who trains at the Frances Bleasdale School of Dancing in Bolton, is part of the cast for classic ballet Coppélia, which will be performed at the St George’s Hall in Bradford from Friday, April 22 and Saturday, April 23.
Currently doing her GCSE’s, including contemporary dance, Helen has recently achieved a distinction at grade five and she’s now taking the grade six intermediate foundation.
Her mum, also named Helen Turner, said: “We’re incredibly proud of her because it’s entirely her own achievement. She took the lead with it.
“I’m in construction and her dad is in IT. Put me on stage and I’d be sweeping up.”
Helen was spotted by ex-professional ballet dancer and current artistic director at Moorland International Ballet Academy, Lynsey Kidd, while on a summer camp at the age of 9.
Although she also practices other forms of dance, 'her love is ballet, and she would like to go to Northern Ballet,” her mum said.
She added: “Frances Bleasdale have brought her on massively. They spent so much time on her. They’ve done an awful lot.”
The EYB is one of the UK’s largest ballet companies and previously won The Stage Award for special achievement in regional theatre.
The company is made up of six professional principals and 70 selected dancers aged eight to 18.
Audiences will see international principal artists sharing the stage with the top up-and-coming young talent from the local area.
A spokesperson for EYB said: “Helen is an extremely talented dancer from Bolton.
“She is currently experiencing the life of a professional dancer in rehearsals.
“The whole cast of young dancers are super excited, as they will perform alongside international professional dancers.”
There are now ex-EYB young performers in some of the world’s best companies – including the Royal Ballet.
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