A TWINKLE-TOED teenage dancer who reached the final of a national competition has landed his first stage role.

Seventeen-year-old Jacob O’Connell, of Covingham, will appear in critically-acclaimed “Zulu-ballet” Inala, which will play to audiences across the country from June 22.

The talented youngster will take his place among a stellar cast of professionals from the entertainment world, including multiple-Grammy award winning male choral group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, known for their work on Paul Simon’s iconic album, Graceland.

Inala, which blends Zulu traditions with classical ballet and contemporary dance, also features dancers from the prestigious Royal Ballet and Rambert schools, which Jacob currently attends.

Jacob, who is currently in final rehearsals, said: “It was amazing to be picked from so many people and I get recognised a lot more in the dancing world now.

“I’m nervous when we do the technical run-throughs because everything has to be perfect but I’m excited about performing on tour.

“The rehearsals are exhausting and there’s a lot of pressure on us but it’s great to finally be doing what I love. Opportunities like this are very hard to come, with arts funding being cut and it being so competitive so I’m grabbing this with both hands.”

The former Youth Dance Academy member at Swindon Dance has seen his star rise since he reached the final of the first BBC Young Dancer of the Year competitions Grand Final, held at performing arts venue Sadler’s Wells in May.

Ex-Dorcan Academy pupil Jacob had previously triumphed in the first ever Contemporary Final in the competition.

Jacob’s friends and family will get the chance to see him on stage when he visits the Bristol Hippodrome on July 26, where he hopes to deliver consistently spell-binding performances.

“I want every performance to be like the first one, to bring something new and inject new life into the performance," he said. "For the audience they will only see it once so I want it to be the best it can be.

First Artist of the Royal Ballet and executive producer Pietra Mello-Pittman said: “It is great news that BBC Two’s Young Dancer 2015 Contemporary winner, Jacob O'Connell, is to join the Inala tour along with five other graduates from The Rambert School. They are certainly all of a very high standard and choreographer Mark Baldwin and I are extremely confident that they will all shine as performers in Inala."

Inala’s UK tour will open at Oxford’s New Theatre on June 23. For tickets and further information visit www.inala.co.uk.