BUDDING ballerinas have pirouetted their way to success in dancing exams.

Dozens of students from Born to Dance, in Darlington, have passed Royal Academy of Dance ballet exams with flying colours.

In the primary section, Chloe Lomas, Poppy Holmes, Bethany Hodgson, Georgina Bascombe and Holly Gallacher gained merits, while Anna Heward, Gabrielle Padurariu, Jordan McKinnon, Rachel Elphick, Emily Wright, Jennifer Taylor, Natalie Foley and Victoria Speed all received distinctions.

At grade one, Beth Docherty gained a pass, Dominic Mulholland, Amy Glenton, Charlotte Docherty, Chloe Bradley, Eloise Ross, Lucy Hu, Kathryn Coulson, Laura Hodgson, Natacha Gibbon and Olivia Jane Francis achieved merits, while Jamie Heward, Theo Close and Charlotte Longstaff attained distinctions.

At grade two, Whitney Smart, Sophie Loftus, Beth Littlefair, Melissa Bates, Elena Dunstall and Aiden Bethray all gained merits.

At grade four, Sarah Bell received a pass, Emma Bryan, Megan Robson, Sophie Hawman, Claire Gorman, Emma Sutherland, Rebecca Bates and Sian Colebrooke were awarded merits, while Lauren Smith and Elizabeth Davis received distinctions.

At grade six, Helen Carvey, Jeyda Heselton and Sally Cowen attained merits and Lyndsey Cartwright achieved a distinction.

In British Theatre Dance Association exams, 139 pupils took exams, with one gaining a pass, 37 achieving merits, 14 gaining highly commended, 18 awarded honours and 69 attaining distinctions.

Sue Henderson, who owns the dance school, said: "The boys and girls have worked hard each week towards these exams. I am so proud of them."

The school runs lessons six days a week. For more information on lessons at Born to Dance, call 01325-355273