IT is not often that a ballerina takes centre stage on a naval warship.

But it did not seem to faze English National Ballet’s Adela Ramirez who posed on HMS Dauntless to launch a military charity initiative at the PSP Southampton Boat Show.

The Mayflower theatre in Southampton and its regular visitors the English National Ballet have teamed up with Tickets for Troops to offer members of the Armed Forces free ballet tickets.

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Spanish Miss Ramirez, senior soloist with the ballet company, said: “It’s so exciting being on the ship.

“I think the idea is fantastic – it will be nice to not always have the same people come to see the ballet.”

The Mayflower is offering five tickets to each performance of Romeo and Juliet between October 20 and October 23 and hopes to expand the offer with discounted tickets to some other shows later in the year.

Adam Lawford, marketing assistant with the English National Ballet, said he hoped this would broaden ballet’s appeal.

“It’s not every day you see a Juliet on board a Royal Navy flagship,” he added.

HMS Dauntless has been in Southampton for the past three days offering people the chance to look around the brand new Type 45 Destroyer.

It heads back to Portsmouth today before sailing up to Scotland for high seas firing.

Deputy weapon engineer lieutenant James Fickling said that The Mayflower ’s offer was much appreciated.

He said: “I went to Twickenham thanks to Tickets for Troops.

“It’s nice to get public support especially for the job we do.

“It makes it much easier if you feel the support of the nation is behind you.”