A TWINKLE-TOED young dancer from Lochgelly is swapping her street-dancing sneakers for a pair of ballet shoes after beating youngsters from across Fife to secure a part in balletLORENT’s production of Rapunzel, in Kirkcaldy next week.

Ava Hoggan (8) has been dancing since she was four years-old and is a member of the Lochgelly-based Zodiac dance company. After seeing a poster advertising auditions for Rapunzel - a critically-acclaimed ballet written by famed Scottish poet Carol Ann Duffy - Ava joined around 50 other young hopefuls in auditioning and was chosen to be part of the production.

Mum Greta (31) couldn’t be more proud of her talented daughter, “It’s normally street dancing she does but she does a bit of ballet too so she thought she’d try it out.

“The auditions were a full day - around half of them got cut after the morning and then it went on into the afternoon.

“We got a phone call that night and found out that Ava was one of the 12 that were chosen. She was over the moon - she was at her dancing class at the time and she was totally happy when she found out.” Ava has already had her first rehearsal for the show and will take part in a few more before the big night in October, and the P4 St Patrick’s Primary School pupil is excited about her first appearance on the big stage.

“She can’t wait!” said Greta. “She loved dancing with them at rehearsal. They tour all over the country and are brilliant dancers so it’s a great experience to be part of.

“It’s the first time she’s auditioned for anything, so she was really happy to get it and it’s a nice wee confidence boost. She’s always singing and dancing - she says she wants to be a dancer when she grows up.” Greta is excited about the show as well, and plans to be there to cheer her daughter on. “I’m going along on both days it’s on - I’ll be a totally proud mum!” she said.

BalletLORENT’s production of Rapunzel will take place at the Adam Smith Theatre in Kirkcaldy on Friday 3rd (7pm) and Saturday 4th (2pm) October.