A DREAM has become a reality for a talented Malvern dancer who has been offered a place at the Royal Ballet School.
Ten-year-old Jakob Hughes, who attends Ballet Malvern Centre of Dance, will become a junior associate at the renowned school in September following months of gruelling training and auditions.
Acceptance onto the prestigious programme for eight to 10-year-olds means Jakob, a pupil at Malvern Parish Primary School, could be asked to take part in productions by The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and visiting companies.
He will train with at the Royal Ballet School’s Birmingham centre every Saturday from September to July next year.
Rebecca Sloan-Kirton, principal at Ballet Malvern, said Jakob only joined her classes in March but she recognised his potential immediately.
Jakob has been training for eight hours a week at the Cowleigh Road dance school, alongside his studies at Malvern Parish.
Rebecca, who has 30 years worth of classical training and teaching to her name, works closely with the Royal Ballet School and says she’s incredibly proud of him.
“I know he’ll go far if he continues the way he’s going and takes as much of our training as possible over the next year,” she added.
“We’ve still got a long way to go, but we’re so proud of him.”
On the programme, Jakob will learn the Royal Ballet’s system of training with a view to a full-time vocational qualification, attend workshops at the upper school and may even have the chance to rehearse at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.
Jakob said: “When I first heard the news I felt fabulous.
“Miss Rebecca has helped me a lot, because when I started at Ballet Malvern I couldn’t even lift my leg in the correct position – I was turning in – but now I can.
“I’ve improved a lot already. I love doing ballet at Ballet Malvern and am excited about the Royal Ballet School classes.”
Ballet Malvern runs daily classes from floor barre to stage performance and jazz dance, and sessions for pre-primary children up to adult ballet.
For further information, visit www.balletmalvern.co.uk.
