YOUNG dancers from Gwent will get the chance to perform with professionals next Thursday.

The ballet dancers, who are all senior associates and 14 and over, will perform in three scenes from A Midsummer Night’s Dream with members of Ballet Cymru at The Riverfront in Newport on Thursday and Friday.

Twelve young dancers from Newport, Pontypool, Brecon and Monmouth will perform over the two nights.

The associate programme started in 2011 and aims to give children understanding and insight into what it would be like to be a professional dancer. It has been funded by charities The Gibbs Trust, Oakdale Trust, the D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust and the Idlewild Trust.

Patricia Vallis, Ballet Cymru’s development officer, said: “This is the first time that they have had this fantastic chance to shine with the professional dancers.”

Once a dancer turns 17 they apply to a ballet school. Last year, one dancer from the programme was taken on a full scholarship at the English National Ballet in London and two were accepted by Tring Park School for Performing Arts in Hertfordshire.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream starts at 7.30pm on Thursday and Friday. Call The Riverfront Theatre on 01633 656757.