Chantelle Dudson, of Springfield Crescent, was up against hundreds of hopefuls for a place on a four-year course at the Bird College. But she made it through the auditions to secure her place.

The 16-year-old started at the college on September 14. She said: “I’ve been dancing since I was two with my sisters. It’s quite hard work at the college but I’m really enjoying it.” She is taking classes in ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, music theory, singing and drama.

Chantelle set her sights on going to the college after attending a taster week at the college in the Easter holidays two years ago, .

She got her passion for dancing from her mum Cindy, who used to dance as a child, and her sister’s Tanya (20) and Louanna (17), who are also keen dancers.

The former student of Harborough’s Robert Smyth School student used to practise for four hours a day and is hoping the course will help her clinch a career in contemporary dance.

She said: “I want to be a professional dancer either in the West End or on a cruise ship.”

Chantelle’s mum, Mrs Dudson, who owns Boo Boo’s dancewear shop in Kibworth, said: “I’m so proud of all my daughters for their achievements and I think it’s great that Chantelle is following her dreams.”