A Redditch dancer will be performing at the newly-refurbished Birmingham Hippodrome later this year after being accepted into the prestigious Junior Associate section of the National Youth Ballet.

Rutleigh Norris Ballet School pupil Millie Coles, of Birmingham Road, passed two tough auditions to win herself a place but the talented dancer has been a member of the Junior Associate for the last two years.

She will perform as a cowboy in a specially devised ballet entitled Nursery Suite for children aged 11 and under, which is about toys which come to life.

Millie, who also attends the Betty Fox Stage School in Birmingham, will dance at the Hippodrome on October 14 following rehearsals at the Birmingham Royal Ballet studios which begin in September.

The programme also includes Toad, which is based on the Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame and choreographed by Wayne Sleep, the world premieres of Hansel and Gretel and Simple Symphony, with music by Benjamin Britten, and Just For Fun which will mainly be performed by 11-18-year-old dancers.

National Youth Ballet artistic director Jill Tookey said: "Millie showed a lot of vitality and did very well to get through to the final and secure a place. It was incredibly competitive and the standard of entry very high.

"The cowboys had quite a grilling at the auditions and had to fight for their places."

Millie's first audition was held in Birmingham on April 8 and the recall was in London on April 22.

Her mum, Susan Coles, said: "We are obviously very proud of Millie. She has been dancing since she was three and does drama and singing as well.

"She has also performed as the young Kathy alongside Cliff Richard in Heathcliff."