A TALENTED dancer from Christchurch pirouetted her way through an audition at the Royal Ballet last month.

Olivia Bratt, 9, successfully auditioned for the Junior Associates Programme and begins her classical ballet tuition in September this year.

The try-out took place in Eastleigh, where only a handful of other candidates between the ages of 8 and ten were also selected.

The little ballerina has been a pupil for three years at Studio One (Dorset’s Centre for Performing Arts) in Ferndown, where she also trains in the disciplines of Tap, Modern Jazz, Acrobatics and Musical Theatre.

Olivia recently accredited a Gold Award Distinction in her Royal Academy of Dance Grade Two Ballet examination and is awaiting further results for her British Theatre Dance Association Tap, Modern and Acrobatic examinations. In recognition of her achievements, she also received the Studio One annual classical award.

The Associates course is designed for children who aspire to a career within the dancing industry and aims to enhance an Associate’s current training. Successful applicants are sometimes given the opportunity to perform with The Royal Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet.

Studio One Principal, Denise Booth, said: “I am delighted for Olivia who is always hard-working, cheerful and a delight to teach. The Associate Programme nurtures young, talented students in classical ballet training.”

Mr and Mrs Bratt also explained how phenomenally proud they are of their daughter’s accomplishments, thanks to her teachers: Miss Denise, Miss Kate and Miss Rebecca.

Mother, Joanne, said: “Olivia dreams of becoming a professional dancer so she is over the moon to have been offered a place as a Junior Associate with the Royal Ballet School. She would dance all day, everyday, if she could.”

She concluded: “Her whole family are absolutely delighted for her and so extremely proud.”

Auditions for Junior Associates are held annually in May and June, and applications can be made from January.