A TALENTED Bournemouth teenager is heading for a highly successful career in dance after qualifying for national finals.

LeAF Studio student Hattie Williamson, 14, swept the board at a host of recent regional ballet and modern dance competitions, breaking records along the way.

In the Bournemouth Music and Dance Festival she was the first dancer in the competition’s 87 year history to win all three major championship titles – Senior Classical, Senior Stage and Most Promising Senior Dancer.

And in her recent ISTD Grade 6 Modern exam she scored a perfect 100, a feat described as “very rare” by examiners.

Her performances mean she is one of a small group of talented dancers to qualify for the All England National Finals.

Executive Principal of the LeAF Academy, Gill Blanshard, said: “Hattie is a very special talent and we’re incredibly proud of her.

“Her well-deserved success is down to her determination and hard work and the wonderful support she receives from her teachers, including Angie Taylor who has been involved in Hattie’s dancing since she was just two years-old.

“We will now all be rooting for her in the national finals.”

Hattie’s wins in the Bournemouth festival were particularly impressive as she was entered in the 15-21 age groups by mistake.

Alongside her success in Bournemouth, Hattie was also placed first in Modern Lyrical, and second in Modern Theatre categories at the All England Southern Regional Finals.

Her honours scores were so high that she automatically qualified for the national finals, which will be held in London at the end of July.

Hattie, who trains 26 hours a week in addition to her normal school studies, said: “I’m trying not to think too much about the awards I’ve won as I want to carry on working really hard and remain focused.

“Dancing is my passion and my life and I want to carry on doing the best I can.”