Article by:
Jade Grassby
A talented young dancer from Bournemouth is a step closer to her dream of becoming a professional ballet dancer after being accepted into one of the UK’s most prestigious dance schools.
Harriet Williamson, 16, has been offered one of just 10 fully-funded places available at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts.
She will start in the sixth form in September to pursue a Level 6 Diploma in Professional Dance.
She currently attends Steppin' Out Academy of Performance in Poole and performed in her last show with the school this month.
The youngster, who started dancing at the age of two, has won local and national ballet competitions and, at the age of nine, appeared in the Royal Ballet production of Tales of Beatrix Potter at the Royal Opera House.
Proud dad Daren said being accepted into Tring Park School was a “phenomenal result” for Harriet.
“It blows me away how hard she works. She trains 30 plus hours a week on top of her schoolwork.
“For a student that hasn’t benefited from full vocational training, getting offered a fully-funded place is really rare. The scholarship is worth £30,000.”
He continued: “Ballet is her passion. After her first lesson, she was already the best primary student. I’d read her a story at bedtime and she wouldn’t sit still. She’s always got to be moving – it’s not stopped."
Harriet, who is currently competing in the finals of CBBC’s dance competition Taking the Next Step, was awarded a total of four places at professional dance colleges, each with a full scholarship.
She said when she was awarded the scholarship for Tring Park, it took her a while to process the news.
“It was quite surreal. I don’t think it will sink in properly until I get there. I have a brief idea of what it’s going to be like – I know it’s going to be hard work.
“Being a professional ballet dancer is a dream I’ve had since I was very young. I like the dedication it requires. "It’s something to focus on and lets me do something I love while staying healthy at the same time.
“I started ballet when I was only two and was lucky to have found a school that took me at such a young age.
“The time I spent doing ballet increased and became more intense.”
Commenting on her television appearance, she added: “It was really crazy as I had no idea what I was setting myself up for. It was amazing to relive it watching it on TV.”
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