Dance star in West End show

TALENTED performer Charlene Bettis of Ilfracombe made her stage debut at the age of three.

Now, at 21, she is about to appear in a West End showcase as part of her degree-level studies at stage school.

$<P>TOP TALENT: Dance student Charlene Bettis of Ilfracombe heads to the West End.</P>$

TOP TALENT: Dance student Charlene Bettis of Ilfracombe heads to the West End.

Charlene who is graduating from Liverpool Theatre School in the next few months, will be performing at The Criterion Theatre, London, on March 18 and then again at The Floral Pavilion, Merseyside, on June 24.

The purpose of these shows is for agents to watch students' performances with a view to employment.

Charlene was born with singing and dancing in her blood.

Her debut at the age of three was with The Betty Blackmore School of Dance.

Throughout her childhood she was forever putting dances together with her best friend Deanne Bracher and performing them to the family.

She went on to study performing arts at the North Devon College.

She also attended the Lindsay Ballet Studios in Barnstaple.

Both the college and ballet studios encouraged her to apply for stage school after she gained a National Diploma in Performing Arts with a triple distinction and a National Award in Musical Theatre with distinction.

Charlene won scholarships to three stage schools but chose Liverpool Theatre School, a small establishment with lots of one-to-one work, focussing on vocal training as well as dance and acting.

Charlene is due to graduate in July with a level 6 National Diploma in Professional Musical Theatre under her belt.

She is then hoping to return home to Ilfracombe for six months before heading to London to pursue her dream.

Ultimately, her ambition is to go to New York — having spent a week there while at the North Devon College, attending workshops with The New York Academy of Performing Arts.

In recent months Charlene has been employed by a dance agency who has used her for engagements and special events in and around Liverpool and the surrounding areas.

Performing seems to run in the family as Charlene's brother James is the guitarist and singer in local band Deluded, and her younger sister Chelsea is following in Charlene's footsteps.