A DANCER hit the big time in 2005 by landing a dream job working with pop sensation Celine Dion in Las Vegas.

Chris Houston used to sneak away to dance classes in the evening but ended up performing in the limelight in front of thousands of fans.

The former St Brendan’s High pupil was plucked from more than 10,000 applicants and was the only UK male dancer selected for the plum role.

He treaded the boards at the biggest venue on the famous Strip — The Colosseum, in Caesar’s Palace.

Chris, then 26, impressed the diva, who had a massive hit with the song Think Twice, so much during auditions in Belgium that she hired him on the spot for her own show, A New Day.

The Linwood dancer said in 2005: “I am over the moon about landing this job. I had to convince my family that dance was my vocation in life and I had to sneak away to go to dance classes.

“Celine is like a real mum to us – very genuine and friendly. It is really hard work. It’s a tough show but very rewarding.”

Speaking about her Renfrewshire protege, the biggest selling female artist of all time said: “By working side by side every night, we’ve learned to play our parts together to make A New Day an amazing event.

“This show is not about a singer and her songs, it is truly about one big artistic family.”

After leaving Linwood in 2004 to pursue his ambition, Chris had never looked back.

He added: “I love it here. This is a dream come true.”

The show’s artistic director, Pavel Brun, added: “I’d say that Chris is representing a new generation.”