An aspiring professional dancer from Thame lived the dream last weekend when she took part in English Youth Ballet’s The Sleeping Beauty.
Kelly Stockwell, 17, of Ormond Road, performed as one of Aurora’s guests at The Waterside Theatre show, after making it through a competitive audition process back in January.
For the past three weeks, the teen trained for up to seven hours a day in preparation for the show, alongside the company’s professional dancers.
Kelly, who has attended Romy Louisa Dance Academy since the age of eight, says the opportunity has truly confirmed her decision to become a professional dancer – be it in musical theatre or commercially.
“Being in the show was really, really good,” said the former Lord Williams’s School pupil.
“It was hard work but it was certainly worth it! I’ve just about recovered!
“Doing point work every day for hours was a lot of pain and I got a lot of blisters from doing it, but being on stage alongside the professionals was just incredible.
“Even in the classes watching the professionals was so inspiring. It’s just really confirmed what I want to do with my career.
“The whole experience has really taught me to just keep working harder.
“Normally, someone my age would be unhappy at the thought of training every day for three weeks during their summer holidays, but that is exactly what I wanted to do.
“It’s definitely confirmed it for me.”