Three TV roles for 11-year-old Littleborough performer

Performer Sophie Allan is on TV in the John Lewis/Waitrose advert, has just recorded a tap routine for a film and has also completed a voice over.

Sophie, 11, from Littleborough, is a member of Dansworks Dance Academy of Performing Arts, in Bacup, where she enjoys eight classes from Wednesday to Saturday.

She has been signed up to Tiny Angels model agency in London for a year and got her first big break in July when she was filmed playing the tenor horn in a mock school orchestra for the John Lewis department store and Waitrose advert - Bohemian Rhapsody.

Mum Rosie said: “The advert is currently on TV and there are a lot of children in the orchestra, but I managed to spot Sophie.

“She was then asked to perform a solo tap dance routine in a feature film being shot in London involving a famous actress. It will be screened next year.

“Then she was asked to talk about being a Year 6 pupil for a voiceover for a Department of Education advert.”

Sophie a pupil at Wardle Academy plays tenor horn in the school’s junior band and previously attended St Andrew’s CE School, Littleborough.

Rosie said Sophie’s main love was dancing but because she is already over 5ft at age 11 she is often seen as too tall for roles.

She has been dancing since she was three and enjoys lessons in ballet, tap, contemporary, modern jazz, musical theatre and drama.

Sophie said: “It was really exciting and when I was doing the film because there were so many famous people who were just watching me and they all said that they really enjoyed my dancing.

“There was just me tap dancing on my own with a massive camera. I could see my feet dancing in the camera which did put me off a bit.

“I was asked to perform the ‘amazing routine’ I had done at my audition which has been choreographed by Karen, my dance teacher at Dansworks.

“The John Lewis/Waitrose advert was really cool, and it was just like being a part of a whole school orchestra with children from all over the country.”

Principal at Dansworks Karen Roe said: “At Dansworks we are always delighted when our students are successful in auditions and Sophie has been very lucky to have landed three roles in such a short space of time.

“She is a beautiful dancer and a dedicated performer, and I am sure that this is just the beginning of her success story. I can’t wait to see the film next year.”