A DEDICATED 11-year-old dancer will take to the stage following in the footsteps of TV's Strictly Come Dancing duo Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace, who have wowed crowds in Oxford.

Holly Batten, from Southwold in Bicester, has been selected as one of about 100 local ballet dancer aged eight to 18 to take to the stage at Oxford's New Theatre.

The youngster successfully battled it through auditions for the English Youth Ballet (EYB) and will perform in the city next month.

She said: "When I found out I had got in I was quite excited and couldn't really believe it.

"I had obviously hoped to get through but wasn't sure that was realistic or could actually happen.

"Dancing is something I have done since I was little and I have just always enjoyed it.

"I am enjoying training for the show but I know it is going to go so quick, so I am trying to make the most of it."

Holly currently dedicates everyday to dance training and is a member of Elite Dance and Theatre Tuition in Bicester.

When The Bicester School pupil is not busy practicing, she also helps to teach younger pupils to dance.

Mum Geraldine Batten said: "We are just so proud of Holly, we went along to the EYB auditions and out of 130 people just 50 were chosen in her age range.

"So I wasn't expecting it but she is doing enormously well at dancing and enjoying it so much too.

"She does want to be a dancer when she grows up, she also really enjoys teaching the young ones so that is a potential avenue as well."

Holly has just a few weeks left before she will take to Oxford's famous theatre stage to perform Sleeping Beauty with other young people from across the region.

The EYB is a way for youngsters to get stuck into a professional surrounding and for many is the first time to take to a stage for audiences as big as that of the New Theatre.

Dance teacher and owner of Elite Dance and Theatre Tuition Hayley Byrd said: "We have had pupils in the past audition for the EYB and get in and when Holly saw it advertised she was very keen to try out.

"She has got such a lovely sense of performance and is just beautiful to watch dance.

"I know how hard she has worked and she is going to be brilliant.

"She is very keen to do ballet as a career and as a teacher I am so proud when any of the kids do well.

"It makes my job worthwhile, to inspire somebody else to take their dancing that little bit further is a bit of a personal achievement as a teacher."

The school is based in Launton Road and teaches all ages from babies to adults.