A TEENAGE ballet sensation has successfully auditioned for a leading dance company for the second year running and will perform at a top London theatre in September.

For 15-year-old Karis Wilkinson, from North Swindon, two years of hard work at the National Youth Ballet will culminate with a Gala Performance in front of a large crowd at the prestigious Sadler’s Wells Dance House on September 4.

The former Isambard Community School pupil began learning to dance at the age of nine, and by 13 she was offered a full time place at the prestigious Tring Park School for Performing Arts, Hertfordshire, to study classical dance.

She said: “The rehearsals are exhausting, but I’m really enjoying it and I think the performance will be great.

“I’m so excited to be part of the cast again this year. It is hard work but working with such professional choreographers and performing at Sadler’s Wells is definitely worth it.”

She describes a typical day at Tring Park as waking up at 7.30am before starting a one-and-a-half hour ballet class at 9am. Then, after lunch, she has a rehearsal until 6.30pm with another after dinner until 8.40pm.

Karis initially attended two Swindon dance schools – the Gemma Short School of Dance and Theatre Arts, Victoria Road, and the Judith Hockaday School of Dance and Drama, Prospect Hill.

Mum Amanda said: “We couldn’t be more proud, she has done so well.

“She was quite late starting ballet. They usually start at a really young age but she started later so she has had to do a lot of catching up.

“It’s every ballet dancer’s dream and we are thrilled for her.”

National Youth Ballet involves talented young dancers aged eight to 18 in every aspect of creating a ballet, from the conception of an idea through to a performance on stage at a professional level.

The company also encourages children from all walks of life to become involved with dance through various schools and community workshops.

This year 120 dancers from across the country were offered places with the company and will perform in the 2016 season.

Karis said: “All my friends have been really supportive and they have encouraged me and helped me along the way.

“I am really excited, I think it is going to be amazing performing in London. We have all been working really hard and it will be good to finally get the chance to perform.

“When I first went to Tring I missed my family a lot but I have adjusted now and after dance school I would like to join a company and travel around Britain.”

Karis will be dancing in a show called The Old Man of Lochnagar, which is a ballet based on the children’s book by The Prince of Wales, choreographed by Olivier Award winner and NYB alumnus Drew McOnie.