THE West End curtain will rise tonight on a Swindon dancer.

Twelve-year-old Lucy Sims has danced her way to Billy Elliot The Musical at The Victoria Palace Theatre.

Lucy, who attends Isambard Community School and Tanwood School Of Performing Arts, has had to rehearse five days a week in London over the past two months in preparation for her opening night.

At the beginning of September Lucy got through three days of auditions when she was successfully offered the part of Sharon Percy, who plays the ballet girl in the West End musical.

Lucy joined the Tanwood school two and a half years ago with no ballet experience at all, but by the beginning of the year she was a finalist at the Imperial Ballet Awards.

This summer, she spent a week with the English National Ballet School in London and she has also gained an associate place at the Central School Of Ballet in London.

Her mother Lisa said: “We would like to thank all the teachers at Tanwood for what they have taught Lucy.

“We would also like to say a big thank you to Isambard School and Mr Maxfield who have been so supportive with Lucy needing to attend rehearsals in London.”

Ahead of her big night Lucy said: “I am having a brilliant time. I am loving the rehearsals and I have made lots of great friends. I can’t wait for the shows to start.”

Lucy is not the only one in her family to make it on to the stage this year. Her sister, Abbie,14, who also attends Tanwood, will be featured alongside Paul Nicholas among the cast of the panto Peter Pan at the Wyvern Theatre this Christmas.