Bromsgrove teenager on her way to becoming professional ballet dancer (From Bromsgrove Advertiser)

Bromsgrove teenager on her way to becoming professional ballet dancer

3:10pm Friday 3rd February 2012 in News

A BROMSGROVE teenager is on the way to her dream career of becoming a professional ballet dancer, after being accepted into one of Europe’s premier dancing schools.

Nikki Foulkes has been dancing since she was two-years-old, and is a former pupil of Dodderhill School, in Droitwich, where she gained nine GCSEs.

Nikki was one of only 38 youngsters selected for a place at the Central School of Ballet, (CSB), from 420 who applied.

She went through a tough selection process including auditions in front of CSB’s teaching staff, all former professional dancers.

The 17-year-old has just completed her first term on the three-year degree course in Professional Dance and Performance - the dance school being the only one in the UK to offer the unique qualification.

The course’s main focus is on classical ballet, and students are also given tuition in choreography, Spanish dance, pilates, jazz dance, drama, dalcroze eurhythmics, singing and contextual studies.

During her final year Nikki will join the school's touring company Ballet Central, which will perform at 22 national venues including the Linbury Studio Theatre at the Royal Opera House.

After graduating, Nikki hopes to follow in the footsteps of previous graduates who have gone on to work for the world’s premier dance companies, including The Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, and Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo.

Nikki said: “We train at least six hours a day during the week and take classes on Saturday morning too.

“You have to be dedicated to make it to the top but it's my dream to be a dancer at one of the top ballet companies.

“The training here is as challenging as any top athlete but the rewards of performing are what we all look forward to."