Sugarplum Fairytale: Girl born with twisted feet wins role with English Youth Ballet

Life-changing decision: Esme Phillips was born with crooked feet but chose to take up ballet at 7 to avoid surgery - and has now won a starring role

A ten-year-old girl born with feet pointing inward at 90 degrees has landed a role in a prestigious ballet show.

Esme Phillips was unable to crawl as a toddler but will now pirouette on stage after being cast in a new production by the English Youth Ballet.

The youngster from Newcastle took up dancing after doctors told her it might help her to walk and avoid a major operation.



Three years later Esme is to appear in a large-scale production of Coppelia and has been told she will not need surgery.



Her proud mother Emma Jane, 38, said: 'We were given two options - we were told the bones in Esme's legs would have to be broken and re-set or we could try ballet.



'So I just thought, why not? "I can't believe the difference it's made to her.



'She had a lot of trouble walking when she was younger, she couldn't even toddle or crawl.



'We can't believe the difference ballet has made to her life.'

Esme dances four times a week at the Prima Academy of Performing Arts in Washington. As well as ballet, she trains in street, jazz, cabaret, tap, Scottish, Chia and musical theatre.

Mrs Phillips took Esme to audition for the acclaimed EYB in October for Coppelia at the Tyne Theatre in Newcastle this month.



The Durham High School for Girls pupil was up against more than 100 girls in a gruelling hour-long audition, and was delighted to land a part in the production.



Mrs Phillips said: 'I take Esme to the theatre quite a lot. She loves going to watch the ballet and the opera, and we've been to the Tyne Theatre a few times - but we haven't seen Coppelia before.



'It will be really strange watching my daughter on the stage we have looked upon so many times.



'I couldn't be more proud of her, and she's just so excited to be part of the show.'

Sentimental: Esme Phillips will star in a new English Youth Ballet production of Coppelia

Esme was one of eight South Tyneside dancers to be selected to perform in the show, a comic ballet which tells the story of mysterious inventor, Doctor Coppelius, who makes a life-size dancing doll.



She has rehearsed for the show three or four times a week for up to six hours each time.



Esme said: 'I love dancing, it's my favourite thing to do, and I like ballet the best because it's helped my condition.



'My feet still hurt a bit when I put them into first position, but I don't need to have an operation any more, so I'm really happy.



'I'm so excited to be in Copellia. The rehearsals have been really hard but really fun and I know it's all going to be worth it in the end.'

Esme already has her heart set on a job in the legal profession with hopes of being a judge, but says she would still dance in her spare time.

