A BUDDING ballerina has won a place in a Royal Ballet master class. Sally Reynolds, 15, a pupil at Chester-le-Street’s Hermitage Academy who also attends the Lewis School of Dance, entered a Royal Academy of Dance annual competition for young northern ballet dancers.

She was one of only eight youngsters selected to take part in the session with a member of the Royal Ballet Company. Sally has been with the dance school for three years and has gained Royal Academy of Dance Grade 3, 5, 6.

Two months ago she passed her Vocational Major Intermediate Ballet. Sally will be taking RAD Grade 7 in November and is also in the Advanced Ballet Class.

Sally is studying BTEC Level 2 Dance at school, which gives her the chance to try different styles.

Judi Johnson, Sally’s dance teacher at Hermitage, said: “Sally’s excellent ballet training at the Lewis School of Dance has given her the technique and foundation for success in many dance styles. “It is fantastic that her hard work and dedication to ballet has been recognised in a regional competition.”

Sally said: “I entered the competition with the view to gaining some experience. “I never believed I would actually win a place. I am really excited and cannot wait for the Master Class with the Royal Ballet.”