I DO feel like dancing - in Billy Elliot!

From the archive, first published Wednesday 11th Apr 2007.

A YOUNG actress has danced her way into the hit West End musical Billy Elliot.

Lucy Andrews, 12, will play Julie Hope in the production at the Victoria Palace Theatre later this year.

Lucy, a pupil at King John School, Thundersley, and a student at the Tiffany Theatre College, in Leigh, said she was thrilled to have landed the role of Julie, a dancer at a ballet class attended by troubled Billy.

She said: "I've seen the musical before and it was really good. Rehearsals started this week and I'm really looking to all of it.

"I love being on stage and I love performing. It has all been really fun. The auditioning was great - a really good experience."

Lucy will start in the show in June. She will study at school in the morning and travel to London in the afternoon for rehearsals five days a week.

The former Hadleigh Junior School pupil has been dancing since she was just two.

Parents Gary and Rosanna, of Mountnessing, Hadleigh, said they were incredibly proud of their daughter.

Mr Andrews said: "She is going to be really busy but is so excited about it. She is at the Joanne Bond School of Classical Ballet and we have really noticed a big improvement in her dancing since she joined.

"Her mum and I are a permanent taxi service, taking her and her sister Samantha all over the country, but we don't mind at all.

"It's what she has always wanted to do and she has worked so hard."

The production, which features music by Elton John, opened in the West End in March 2005 to huge acclaim, with some critics calling it the best British musical for years.

Since its opening, south Essex performers have had a strong connection with the show.

George Maguire, from Stanford-le-Hope, was one of the three original boys to play the title role of Billy in the stage show.

His performance led to him jointly winning an Olivier award for Best Actor in a Musical last year.

Youngsters Biancha Szynal, from Benfleet, and Elena-Beth Carter, from South Ockendon, have also featured as dancers in the show.