A NINE-YEAR-OLD dance student from Wotton has successfully auditioned for the Royal Ballet.

Penny Eldridge, nine, attends The Ruth Osborne School of Dancing in Wotton and will now be receiving classes with The Royal Ballet, alongside her regular classes.

She successfully won a spot on the Junior Associate Scheme after impressing at an audition.

Kathryn Hurley, who took over as principal of The Ruth Osborne School of Dancing in January, said: “I am immensely proud of Penny.

“She is extremely dedicated and passionate about her dancing.

“This is a wonderful opportunity, that I'm sure she will make the most of.

“Through courtesy, discipline, motivation and dedication, a confidence develops which our students can apply to all aspects of life.”

The Ruth Osborne School of Dancing has been running for 35 years.

More than 120 pupils ranging from age two-and-a-half to 17 attend the school which aims to offer the highest quality of training in ballet, tap, modern, street and contemporary.

Classes run in Wotton-under-Edge town hall and Charfield village hall.

For more information visit popplecot.wixsite.com/rosod.