A 13-YEAR-old girl has beaten more than 1,000 hopefuls to win a place at a prestigious dance school.

Hannah Johnson, from Brinscall, was chosen after rigorous auditions organised through her Blackburn-based dance school.

The St Wilfred’s High School pupil became one of 20 girls who secured a place at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds.

Hannah has been dancing at Pat Eakets School Of Dancing, Town Hall Street, Blackburn, since the age of four.

She said: “I was really excited and happy when I found out.

“I found out a couple of weeks after I had the audition in May. “I don’t have an idol because I want to be unique.

“But I want to become a professional dancer and perform in big shows.”

Northern School of Contemporary Dance is a unique dance training institution offering a select group of students the opportunity to develop and excel as dance artists in a specialist environment.

The school is part of a conservatoire of dance schools which includes RADA.

Hannah’s dad Ross, 43, said: “I think she has got a lot of opportunities and that gives her a real chance.

“She has to be disciplined because she will be at school and will be dancing at the school in Leeds three times a week.

“It is going to be quite demanding and hard financially as well.

“But she has a lot of natural ability.

“The school has a very high standards and it is supposed to part of one of the best in the country and Europe”