A BLACKBURN woman is to dance her way across the globe after clinching her biggest role yet.

Fame beckons for Emma Collinson, 20, whose family live in the Livesey area of Blackburn.

After graduating from a top theatre academy last year she is now to tour three continents and appear throughout Europe, Oceania and America as a dancer in the international hit show Spirit of the Dance.

She has undergone intensive training to learn the Irish and Latino styles used in the show, which has already been seen by 25 million people globally.

Emma is appearing with the rest of the cast in Spain.

The tour is expected to take in New Zealand, Australia, Britain and America, including glitzy Las Vegas venues.

Her mum Christine Bailey said: "We are so proud of her.

"She really wanted to be in this, as it is so established." Emma, who uses her great-grandmother's surname 'O'Day' as her stage name, started dancing at Pat Eaket's School in Blackburn in 1996 while she was still a pupil of St Wilfred's High School.

After leaving school, she undertook a three-year course at the prestigious London Studio Studio, where she graduated with a commendation.

There, Emma was taught ballet, tap, jazz and contemporary dance as well as receiving acting and singing lessons.

Her first major role after graduating was a seven-month stint in a casino and hotel complex in Canary Island of Gran Canaria.

Spirit of the Dance is scheduled to come to England next year.