A DANCER from the Isle of Wight is taking to the high seas in the first big break of her career.

Former Christ the King College student Mary Sheath, 20, has been chosen to perform onboard the Marella Discovery — part of the third largest fleet of cruise ships in the UK.

Mary, who studied at the prestigious Northern Ballet School in Manchester, was recruited by Yorkshire based Peel Entertainment in November, following hotly-contested nationwide auditions.

She will now join the onboard entertainment team, comprising 12 accomplished singers and dancers from all over Europe, for a nine-month tour of Asia and the Middle East.

The Discovery sails from Thailand later this month.

Mary said: “The whole process has been really enjoyable, from the initial auditions to the last ten weeks, where the team has lived and worked together 24/7 to get all the shows ready.

"It’s been very demanding as I perform several solos, including the role of Roxanne in Starry Starry Night, which also involves some challenging lifts which have been exciting to learn.”

Marella Cruises Entertainment, famous for its West End style shows, has helped to launch many young people’s careers in the entertainment industry — including Cleopatra Joseph and Joseph Fletcher, who are both currently starring in West End productions.

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