THE performances of Altrincham schoolgirl musical star Isabelle Cross are certainly something to make a song and dance about.

For the talented pupil at Loreto Grammar School came third in the Song and Dance section of the World Dance Championships in Germany.

The 15-year-old, from Urmston, has just competed against the cream of the world's musical talent in the international gala event in Offenburg singing the classic 'Don't Rain on My Parade' from Funny Girl.

A big Barbara Streisand fan, Isabelle already has an outstanding musical pedigree among child performers having toured with the award winning Sound of Music as Gretl for 10 months when she was just seven, performing in Oliver at Manchester's Palace Theatre when she was 10 and starring as Annie at the Liverpool Empire aged 12.

Isabelle, who trains with Dance Works in Eccles, said with telling maturity: “There's no secret to performing. You just have to develop self confidence through hard work and hours and hours of practice.”

After she leaves Loreto Isabelle wants to go one of the country's top stage schools and prepare for a life in the West End shows. She said: “That's what I have always wanted to do since I was a very small. I love musical theatre and it's a privilege to be able to perform such wonderful songs.”