People and Personalities

A teenage dancer is set to become only the fourth British girl in 230 years to be accepted to study at the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Russia.

Natalie Carter, 16, impressed a talent scout during a performance at the Gypsy Booth College and School of Theatre Arts in Watford and was offered a place at the school.

Since it was established in 1773, only three Britons have studied at the Bolshoi.  Natalie is the first British girl who stands a chance of eventually graduating.  Henry Perkins is set to become the first British ballet dancer to graduate from the Bolshoi in June 2010.

Natalie had already been accepted to Central School of Ballet when she was offered at place at the Bolshoi. Following her arrival in Moscow, on August 30, she  faces 40 hours a week of intensive training to bring her up to the school's extremely high standards. She will also have to take one-and-half hours of Russian language classes every day.

''When I first found out I was scared but very excited. I have always liked to dance and love ballet," she said. ''I find dancing very relaxing and it is good for expressing what you're feeling inside.

''It's very emotional and there is nothing like the feeling you get when you're dancing in front of an audience. It is one of the best opportunities ever given to me to fulfil my dream of becoming a professional ballerina one day.

''My dream role would be Giselle or the Lilac Fairy in Sleeping Beauty.''

Natalie started dancing with the Gypsy Booth School in Watford when she was seven and two years later progressed to ballet. She has between 10 and 15 hours of dance lessons there a week.

The Bolshoi Theatre is home to the Ballet Company

She was encouraged to apply for the Bolshoi after impressing Svetlana Adyrkhaeva, a former principal dancer for the Bolshoi, when she visited Natalie's dance school in September 2008.

Natalie's mother Sue sent out more than 1,500 letters seeking sponsorship to help meet the necessary fees.

Donations from local businesses have allowed her daughter to take up her place in Moscow.

''It is an opportunity of a lifetime that very few have been invited to do. I am obviously very proud of both my girls, but felt totally and utterly sick at the prospect of my one of my baby girls going to study so young so far away," said Sue.

''Natalie was always an entertainer, even before she started ballet she did drama, tap and modern and she always outshone the other children in performances. Other parents always came up to me and said she had an exceptional talent.''

Accepting the Bolshoi's offer was a lengthy process involving trips to the embassy and completing reams of paperwork in Russian.

The Gypsy Booth School was established in Watford in 1965 and is based at The Centre in South Oxhey.

Gypsy Booth, principle of the dance school where Natalie has received all her training, said: ''From the start we could see her potential and when she took up ballet we quickly discovered it was her forte.

''We will be sad to see Natalie go, but obviously this is a good opportunity for her, though it is a big step for any 16-year-old.''

Natalie and her mother Sue spoke to BBC Three Counties Drivetime presenter Roberto Perrone…