TWO young ballerinas from near Petersfield are to join the English Youth Ballet to star in its acclaimed ballet Nutcracker.

Lilly Batt, from Liss, and Holly Saycell, 14 and from Liphook, are both pupils at Bohunt School.

And as well as the demands of schoolwork, they are busy rehearsing for three performances at the The Hawth Theatre in Crawley that runs from Friday November 19 to Saturday, November 20.

Holly is with the Liphook Academy of Dance and said: “I started dancing when I was three. I was always dancing around the house so my mum decided to take me to lessons.

“For me, the best feelings about dance are the freedom of it, and the accomplishment when you finally get something right.

“I’m enjoying doing the Nutcracker with EYB as I can talk with old friends and make new ones.

“I also like the ballet itself, and learning about the performance as well as the dancing.”

Lily, 15, and a member of Liss Forest Ballet School, added: “I started dancing lessons when I was four years old because I couldn’t sit still and I was always dancing around the room, making up shows and making my family watch me.

“Dancing makes me feel free and happy, as if I am in my own world.

“It has always been my dream to perform in the Nutcracker since I was a little girl as this was the first ballet I saw the Moscow City Ballet perform at Chichester at Christmas. It is my favourite – it is so magical.

“I am hoping to go to sixth form college to study dance next year.

“This is my fourth time dancing with English Youth Ballet.

"My first was performing as a courtier in Swan Lake at the Hawth Crawley when I was ten, then as a midnight hour and Spanish doll in Coppelia at Portsmouth and then as Cinderella’s friend in Cinderella in Hollywood, also in Portsmouth.”

The English Youth Ballet was founded in 1998 to provide professional-performance experience for talented young dancers.

The glittering production will star international principal dancers and showcase the talents of 88 young dancers from the south east.

Tickets can be bought at the box office on 01293 553636 or at www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk/the-hawth