A TALENTED young dancer is set to fulfill her dream by appearing on Strictly Come Dancing.

Grace Ward, ten, from Barling, will pull on her dancing shoes to appear on the nation’s screens next week.

The excited youngster will take part in a special edition of the show on Sunday, November 17, which is being filmed at the world-famous Blackpool Tower Ballroom.

As if that wasn’t enough, Grace, of Little Wakering Road, will also be competing at next month’s World Ballroom Championships, in Paris, but not before heading to the Netherlands this weekend for the Dutch Open dancing competition.

The Barling Primary School pupil took up classes when she was five, after being mesmerised by the BBC programme.

Now Grace can’t wait for the experience of being on the show.

She said: “It’smy first time performing at the Tower Ballroom and because it’s going to be Strictly it’s a mixture of nerves and excitement.

“It’s going to be a really great experience for the future.

“It’s going to be nice to see what it’s like.”

Grace will be performing on the show with partner Joseph Hughes, also ten, from Bournemouth. Grace travels to the Dorset town every weekend for rehearsals.

The duo will be one of six couples dancing.

Grace, who said her favourite dancer on the show is Anton Du Beke, said: “I’m really looking forward to dancing with all my friends. It’s nice to be able to do it with them.”

The ballroom and Latin dancer, who is ranked fourth in the country in her juvenile category, has previously performed in Miami and will be dancing at the world championships at Disneyland in Paris.