More than 20 young dancers from the York area are to take on the challenge of performing with the English Youth Ballet at the Grand Opera House.

The dancers, between the ages of eight and 16, and from a mixture of schools in the York, Easingwold and Pocklington areas, will showcase their talent in the classical ballet Coppelia in March.

The production, described as a witty, sparkling classical ballet, features a cast of 100 young dancers and will be performed at the Grand Opera House on March 16 and 17.

The ballet has drawn excellent reviews and prompted many letters of commendation at the many places it has been staged so far.

The exciting project will be directed and choreographed by Janet Lewis, a former dancer with The Royal Ballet, who has directed, staged, produced and choreographed more than 50 ballets since 1980.

In 1998 she started English Youth Ballet to give young dancers outside London an opportunity to perform classical ballet within a professional setting.

Updated: 08:34 Monday, January 15, 2001