A YOUNG student from Joze School of Dance in Ilkley has gained a very prestigious place with Yorkshire Theatre Ballet.

Eight-year-old Theia Dillon, of Burley Woodhead, will be training with them weekly for 10 months, finishing with a performance of Beauty and the Beast in July 2025 at the Carriageworks Theatre in Leeds.

Theia had to undertake several auditions before gaining the place.

A spokesperson for Joze School of Dance said: "We are all very proud of her at Joze School of Dance and think she has a shining future ahead of her."

Yorkshire Theatre Ballet is a performance programme for seven to 21-year-olds, which provides talented ballet students with the experience of being part of a youth ballet company.

The programme starts with an audition process, from which students are selected to join the company for the year. Students will take part in weekly ballet classes, which culminates in a performance.