THE eyes of the world will be on a Wirral dancer tonight when she performs in front of the Queen and 1.5 billion others when she takes part in the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games.

Alice Black, who grew up in Birkenhead Park before moving to Prenton as a teenager, is one of 90 dancers opening the games in Glasgow this evening.

The former St Mary’s Catholic College and Wirral Youth Theatre student, who has been a professional dancer since 2008, said: “I have been training and rehearsing for the Commonwealth Games for the past month and rehearsals have been tough - come rain, wind or dark we have been rehearsing.

“It has been a fantastic experience. There will be 40,000 people in the stadium along with 1.5bn people watching on the television and the Queen will open the ceremony and see us perform.”

As a skills specialist performer, Alice will show off her firebreathing and angle grinding skills within the show, as well as dancing.

“I am in the main opening section – there are 90 dancers,” explained Alice.

“I feel very lucky as we are the main opening section. Out of thousands participating, we are the ones who open the main show.”

Alice, who changed her name from Stacey Cooke to give herself a better brand, added; “My adventures and work lead me to say many wonderful things.

“I’m very proud to be representing where I come from and my role within the games.”

Her work has taken her across the globe, including Italy and Germany.

Alice, who will be performing in San Francisco this summer, added: “My aim for 2015 is doing a circus and tour.”

The Queen, as head of the Commonwealth, will attend tonight's ceremony with the Duke of Edinburgh.

Singers Rod Stewart, Susan Boyle and Amy MacDonald will be among those perfoming. 

  • Wiral athlete Lucy Evans will be representing her native Wales in the Games.

Lucy, an events and marketing manager for SquareOne Training in Birkenhead, will take part in the 4x100m relay.

Involved in athletics from a very young age, Lucy started competing as a junior athlete at her local club in Ellesmere Port before moving on to renowned athletics club Sale Harriers in Trafford.