A young dancer from the South Hams has won a place at a school with close links to one of the country’s premier ballet companies.

Sophie Greenaway has been awarded a scholarship to the Elmhurst Ballet School in Birmingham, starting in Year 8 this September.

Elmhurst is a sister site of The Royal Ballet School, and is associated with Birmingham Royal Ballet. Only 12 girls and 12 boys are selected from hundreds of applicants to join Year 7 and places thereafter are rare, only becoming available when someone leaves.

Sophie’s talents were obvious from an early age according to mum Tracey, and she began ballet lessons aged three at The Lucy Abbot Dance Academy in Ivybridge.

Since then her progress has been unstoppable and Tracey said Sophie, who is currently in Year 7 at Ivybridge Community College, "dances for up to 20 hours, seven days a week" covering ballet, pointe, lyrical, modern, tap contemporary and jazz. She also benefits from the schools Dance Academy.

The former Ermington Primary School pupil now trains at Ballare School of Performing Arts in Saltash under Laura Fleet and Jo Wilson, and is part of The Royal Ballet School and the Elmhurst associate programmes. She regularly makes the finals of regional and national dance competitions, attends workshops in Birmingham and London, and last year performed with the English Youth Ballet in Coppelia at the Princess Theatre in Torquay.

Tracey said: "We never gave a thought to where it may all end up, and how much it may all cost. You never imagine this could happen to normal people like us, it is like a roundabout that is hard to get off.

"Since starting associates with RBS and Elmhurst, Sophie’s passion for dancing - and ballet in particular - has increased tenfold and she has improved considerably. This has showed in her latest exams, 91 per cent for Grade 5 Ballet and 90 per cent for Grade 4 modern, results which are difficult to reach at the higher grades.

"We are extremely proud of what Sophie has achieved. Sophie is a truly amazing person and dancer and we love watching her at every opportunity. She is in the top set at school and is very organised with her homework often finishing it late at night to ensure it is ready to hand in.

"She is aware if her homework isn’t completed she can’t go to ballet – something she won’t miss at any cost. She dances everywhere and anywhere, in the supermarkets, on the beach in the sea – basically wherever there is space.

"Sophie has made some lovely friends at Ivybridge Community College and will be sad to leave, but is so excited about her new adventure, especially as she has dancing friends already at Elmhurst Ballet School.

"The downside to all of this is how much it all costs. Although Sophie was awarded a scholarship place there is still a substantial amount to pay, and we are currently trying to raise funds to support Sophie at her new school. Any ideas or offers of support welcome.

"We would like to thank all of Sophie’s dance teachers over the years for all their support and encouragement, you have all played an important part in Sophie’s success, and she couldn’t have done it without you all."To contact Tracey email [email protected] or [email protected] .