IT is one of ballet’s most well-loved stories.

Now a Hampshire dancer has won a coveted role in an upcoming professional production Coppelia with the English Youth Ballet.

Grace Fennelly, from Winchester, will be working alongside EYB’s international principal artists as one of lead role Swanilda’s friends in the ballet.

The 16-year-old said: “I’m really excited about it, I think it’s going to be a really good experience.”

Coppelia tells the story of Dr Coppelius who creates a life-size doll, Coppelia, that he persuades villagers is a real person.

When Swanilda and her friends venture into his house to find the mysterious Coppelia, Swanilda becomes trapped and must pretend to be the doll, which then ‘comes to life’.

Grace, of London Road, Kings Worthy, was one of 50 picked out from more than 100 hopefuls from the region (which is an hour in any direction from Woking) to take part in the show back in March, but had to re-audition for the greater roles in July, which she did despite breaking her collar bone a few days before.

She will shortly enter a 10-day rehearsal before next month’s show.

Grace has been dancing since the age of nine and is currently working towards her Royal Academy of Dance Advanced Two ballet exam alongside classes in modern, tap, contemporary.

The former Henry Beaufort School pupil starts at Peter Symonds College in Winchester in September but dreams of either a career on the stage or teaching ballet.

Coppelia will be at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking for three performances on September 2 at 7.30pm and September 3 at 2.30pm or 7.30pm.

Call the box office 0844 871 7645 or visit ambassadortickets.com/New-Victoria-Theatre.