Olivia's dancing for joy after gaining ballet school place

By Ben Fitzgerald - 31 March 2017

Arts and CultureCommunity

A budding ballet star has secured a place at the world famous Royal Ballet School - one of just 12 chosen from thousands of other hopefuls.

Even Swindon Primary School pupil, Olivia Bayram, 11, heard the amazing news from her mum Caroline, who couldn’t wait until the end of the school day to tell her.

She said: “I was so excited that I went to her school to give her the good news. She was in the middle of playing for the school football team at the time but the school kindly let me tell her.”

Olivia said: “I couldn’t believe it, I was so excited. It’s like a dream come true. I like all kinds of dance but ballet is what I’m really focussed on.”

The talented dancer has been studying ballet with the Tanwood School for Performing Arts since the age of three.

She will now stay at the ballet school’s White Lodge in Richmond Park, where she will hone her ballet skills alongside her academic studies, returning to see her parents Caroline and James every three weeks.

“It’s going to be strange but I know what a big opportunity this is for me so I’m really happy. I think I’m the only person from Swindon to be chosen to go this year so I feel really proud.”

As part of the audition process, Olivia competed against thousands of other hopefuls in a series of three auditions before being chosen as one of 12 from a pool of 64 in the final round in Birmingham.

Your Comments

Be the first to comment on this article

Login or Register to post a comment on this article

Subscribe to The Link

Registered in England & Wales. No: 4513027, Positive Media Group, Old Bank House, 5 Devizes Road, Old Town, Swindon, SN1 4BJ