For many young dancers, the first year at a top ballet school is about adjustment. For Vidya Cannonier-Watson, it has meant stepping into a leading role.

The Bermudian is at present performing in a new production of Cinderella, part of the English National Ballet’s My First Ballet series — a family-friendly adaptation designed to introduce children to dance.

She plays Cinderella, as well as the Winter Fairy — reimagined as an owl by the leading vocational ballet school.

“There’s a recurring theme of nature throughout the ballet,” Vidya said. “It’s been adapted to make it more relatable for children.”

As described on the English National Ballet website:

“Meet the nature-loving Cinderella, who lives on the edge of an enchanted forest where she once gardened and sang with her mother. After loss and silence settle over her home, she’s left with a sharp-tongued stepmother, two noisy stepsisters, and a house full of chores and shadows. But when a letter arrives, inviting all to a Garden Ball, Cinderella’s journey to find her true self begins — guided by the spirit of her mother and the magic of the forest.”

The production was choreographed by George Williamson and is performed by students of the English National Ballet School Graduate Artists Programme.

“It’s not like we’re learning somebody else’s show — this is our production,” Vidya said. “That’s been really nice.”

Cinderella opened on March 28 with performances in Woking, England, before moving to London for a two-week run at Sadler’s Wells East, as part of a national tour that concludes in Newcastle on May 31.

“It’s been going well,” she said, adding that audience reactions — particularly from younger viewers — have been a highlight.

“All the children that we see just love it. They get really shy, but they’re absolutely adorable.”

Being cast in a leading role is a milestone.

“It’s definitely a good experience to be given a lead role this early on,” the dancer said. “It gives you an idea of what it will be like in the future.”

As she approaches graduation in July, however, the next stage of her career remains uncertain. It’s a reality she accepts as part of the profession.

“A lot of people are struggling with finding jobs this year. That’s just how it works sometimes — the job market changes year by year,” she said.

“I’d like to stay [in England] and do a trainee programme somewhere and give myself another year of stability, but in a professional setting.”

Alongside her classical training, she is also exploring opportunities in commercial dance, supported by her representation with the Adam Cooper Talent Agency.

“It allows me to get an in on castings and auditions,” she said. “That could be adverts, modelling, music videos — it can literally be anything.”

Her training reflects that breadth, spanning contemporary, hip-hop, street styles and even Latin dance, and she feels comfortable working across different styles.

“I’m not going to come home to Bermuda until I’ve achieved what I came over here to do,” she said.

Even so, she remains closely connected to the island. This summer, she will return to perform in Dancing Under the Stars, an annual showcase she launched with her brother, Ravi, as a way of giving back to Bermuda’s dance community. This year, she will choreograph a solo for herself as well as a duet, and will also take part in workshops aimed at inspiring younger dancers.

“I think it’s really important that we come back and show what we’ve been doing. That we show proof of the training we’ve been receiving and also give back,” Vidya said. “Hopefully it shows that they can do it as well.”

For now, though, her focus remains firmly on the stage and on making the most of a moment that still feels hard to believe.

“It’s been really surreal,” she said. “I’ve just been trying to keep a level head and stay focused as much as I can.”

• Cinderella is at theatres across England through May 31. For tickets, visitshorturl.at/k40D2