Wombourne dancer Izabelle Pitt lands role in Nutcracker play in London
Youngster Izabelle Pitt has danced her way onto the stage in London for a festive production of the Nutcracker.
The 12-year-old, from Wombourne, was put forward by the Tring Park School for the Performing Arts to appear in 20 shows of the play.
She was chosen from a number of students by English National Ballet for the party scene in the play, with the dancer also appearing as a rat in the battle scene.
Her mother, Suzanne Pitt, said: "She was chuffed because it's another different experience – it's another different theatre with another ballet company.
"Each one has a different variation of the Nutcracker and although she's done it before, it's brand new.
"We've all seen the progress since she started in full-time training as a dancer and as a person she's become fiercely independent."
The dancer, who started performing two shows a night on December 11 to December 14, will return to the stage on Boxing Day until January 5.
Ms Pitt said it had been difficult to see Izabelle move away from home to follow her dancing dream.
She said: "It's been hard and it's a huge change for the family, but I think because I know she's happy, it's made it a lot easier.
"She's made wonderful friends and some of the friends' parents live close by and we've got a really good support network.
"She's settled in so well and it feels like home for her now."
The ballet student will return home for Christmas day, before heading off on Boxing Day to perform later that night.
"It's very demanded for the age, really, but because they are in that school they are expected to step up – because this is what they are trained to do," she added.
Suzanne will be heading to London to watch the show, along with her friends and family, on New Year's Eve to make it a "good start" to the new year.
The 36-year-old said: "It's always emotional to watch here – we always get emotional because we see her progression.
"She grows as a dancer and as a person."
