A Lurgan ballet student will take part in a summer intensive programme tied to the Belfast International Ballet Festival.

Ellen Thompson, who trains at Respira Dance School, has secured a place in the High Points Youth Ballet Summer Intensive. The programme runs from July 27 to August 1 and culminates in a performance at The MAC in Belfast on July 31.

The festival, now in its third year, brings together more than 50 young dancers, professional artists and ballet enthusiasts from Northern Ireland, Ireland, Scotland, England, Portugal and Turkey.

Northern Irish dancers who have gone on to international careers, including Luc Burns and Anna McCoy, return to take part and to work with local students.

Ms Thompson completed her Grade 3 RAD ballet and has performed in local festivals and competitions from a young age. She joined High Points Youth Ballet at eight and has since appeared in its productions of The Spring Gala and The Nutcracker.

This year marks her second festival, and she will perform the solo she presented at the Irish National Youth Ballet competition with High Points Youth Ballet. She also previously featured in a documentary produced for Cúla4 children’s television, where she spoke in Irish about ballet.

Rana O’Brien, managing director of High Points Youth Ballet CIC, said the festival highlights the ambition and talent of Northern Ireland’s ballet community. She added that a central aim is to give young dancers a meaningful chance to learn from and share a stage with role models who have built international careers.