A TALENTED young ballet dancer from a Bury dancing school is celebrating being awarded a place at the prestigious Royal Ballet School.

Eliana Tse, nine, from Chadderton, auditioned against hundreds of other students from across the UK - with a mere handful being offered the place of a Junior Associate.

Eliana started ballet as a complete beginner two years ago and attends the Janet Lomas School of Dancing in Bury.

In that short time, she has gone from a beginner to Grade 3 ballet – something that would normally take five years to achieve.

Alongside being awarded a place as a Junior Associate of the The Royal Ballet School, Eliana also successfully auditioned for a place and began training in September as a Junior Associate of Elmhurst Ballet School, Birmingham.

Teacher Johanna Hadley said: “Eliana is an exceptionally gifted young dancer. It is very difficult to get a place on a Junior Associate's programme.

"Since lockdown, we have been taking classes through Zoom she has continued to work hard through that - it hasn't stopped her.

“It’s such an honour for her to have been accepted at not just one, but two associate programmes for the UK’s top ballet schools this year.”

Alongside her regular classes, being a Junior Associate of the Royal Ballet School means that Eliana will now also receive additional specialist weekly tuition from the Royal Ballet School tutors at their associate centre in Manchester, starting in January 2021.

The Royal Ballet School offers elite ballet training to exceptionally gifted dancers aged 11-18.

Dad, Shui, said he was very proud of his daughter's achievements.

He said: "I'm just so chuffed really. We are so proud of what she has achieved in such a small amount of time.

"She works hard and prepares in her spare time and she will randomly do ballet moves around the home.

"She has exceeded what she needs to do. The ballet school has brought out the best in her and they have always encouraged her."