A DANCER has taken a step towards her chosen career after being selected to take part in a prestigious national competition.
Jess Elsey impressed an examiner so much during her grade five performance that she was nominated for coveted place in the International Theatre Dance Award run by the Royal Northern College of Music.
Jess, a student at Trinity Academy, in Thorne, will compete at Manchester in February.
The 14-year-old, of Hatfield Woodhouse, has been dancing she was four with the Claire Anderson School of Theatre Dance, in Edenthorpe.
She is only the third pupil from the dance school to be put forward for the award, an honour which is only available through audition with candidates nominated by an examiner.
Jess said: "Apart from tap, I like all different kinds of dance but it was for my modern dance that I was nominated, which was a surprise. It’s lovely to know the examiner saw something in me.”
Five hundred dancers out of 7,500 will take part in the Manchester competition with only the winner and runner-up in each category receiving prizes.
"We have to dance an unseen technical piece based on the syllabus wearing a black leotard and black leggings with our hair in a bun, so everyone is the same. Some people will then be chosen to re-dance in the final," Jess explained.
"I feel excited. All you can do is work hard and do what you've learned in class because you can't really prepare for it.
"At this level it's all about listening to the music, showing emotion and feeling with your movements; it's not just about smiling. Modern dance is more about strength and being able to control your movements."
Jess, who is a regular performer in academy productions having been in The Lion King, Treasure Island and most recently Billy Elliot, trains for two hours four nights a week and for three hours on Saturdays, and also teaches younger pupils at the dance school.
She added: "I just really enjoy dance. I've learned to prioritise and that sometimes means I can't watch TV or go out with my friends but it's something I want to do when I'm older so I've got to work hard for it."
Jess plans to stay at Trinity Academy for Sixth Form and then go to performing arts college in London.