An 11-year-old ballerina has become the youngest Maltese dancer to land a part in two live performances at London's famous Sadler's Wells Theatre and The Crescent in Birmingham in September.

Julia Gauci, who dedicates three hours dancing every day after school to achieve her dream, was chosen following tough auditions with a UK ballet company earlier this year.

"I'm really excited and happy about this opportunity - I have a lot of support and did my best to get here," the young girl said.

Thanks to financial support from Bupa Malta and the BOV Joseph Calleja Foundation, Julia will be joining the UK's National Youth Ballet for intense rehearsals in August to prepare for the live performances in September.

"The opportunity to travel abroad has helped me express my emotions and exposed me to different types of dance and cultures.

"I know that if I work hard enough and I push myself I will keep improving... thanks to this financial support I can now pursue my dream to become a professional ballerina," she said, admitting that although she enjoyed school, ballet was her first love.

Bupa Malta executive director Adriana Zarb Adami said: "Julia is a young Maltese top-class ballerina with immense potential and Bupa Malta is always very willing to support exceptional talent."

Julia, who has been under the guidance of the Academy of Dance Arts in Mosta for the past seven years, was born with a natural talent for classical ballet and under her parents' watchful eyes she nurtures this talent with great passion and determination.

This combination of ability and hard work has opened a world of opportunities for Julia, and she has already been chosen from among hundreds of international students to undergo intensive ballet classes with various renowned schools, such as The Opera de Paris, The Royal Ballet School, The English National Ballet School, and the Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance.