THE National Youth Ballet of Great Britain has selected a student from Altrincham Grammar School for Girls to join the cast in their 30th Anniversary production, Time in Motion.

Ranvitha Chaparala, who will shortly join Year 8, is spending the second half of August rehearsing at the Elmhurst Ballet School in Birmingham before performances at the Crescent Theatre, Birmingham and Sadler’s Wells in London.

Time in Motion features seven short ballets linked together, with traditional and contemporary works set to music by composers such as Saint-Saens, Delibes and Britten.

Ranvitha, who learns her dance at the South Manchester Dance School, said: “I love dancing as it is versatile and it allows me to express my feelings. I am learning ballet, tap and modern dancing but ballet is my favourite form.”

Starting dance classes at the age of eight, she initially found it quite difficult.

“Dance has not always been very easy for me, and I had to push myself to catch up with my peers.”

Ranvitha acknowledges that it has been challenging to manage homework and class work as well as the dance and admits, “I don't think I could have come this far without my amazing dance school and my teachers. I'm very grateful for their excellent teaching and support.”

Describing the importance of the National Youth Ballet for young performers, its Artistic Director Mikah Smillie writes: “The excitement created by working professionals, emerging artists and young dance students creating and being inspired by each other, provides our young dancers with a snapshot into how company life works.

“It also develops important learning skills, creative partnerships and most importantly, lifelong friendships which are at the beating heart of every dancer’s life."

The Birmingham performances of Time in Motion will take place on August 25 and 26 and the gala performance at Sadler’s Wells in London is on September 3.