Manchester High School for Girls Sixth Former Heather Oakes, aged 17, spent five weeks with the Atlanta State Ballet at its very own fame academy. The company, recognised for the artistry of its dancers and innovative programming, runs a Dance Education Summer Intensive Program at one of the biggest training facilities in the USA.

Competition for places is fierce, with hundreds of dance students from across the U.S.A. and beyond auditioning for a select number of places. Those who are successful get the opportunity to work under the supervision of the Atlanta Ballet’s Artistic Director John McFall on a challenging, comprehensive curriculum that emphasises strong technique, artistry, and performance.

Heather participated in a minimum of four classes each day, in addition to performance rehearsals, and was exposed to a wide variety of dance disciplines, with an emphasis placed on classical ballet techniques.

She is a member of the Cardwell Theatre School in Altrincham and already has a long list of achievements to her name, including work with the English Youth Ballet on a production of The Nutcracker Ballet. Heather has also trained at the highly-regarded London Studio Centre and the Alabama State Ballet.

Heather, who has just sat AS examinations in English, Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, revealed that she was offered the placement with the Atlanta State Ballet without the precondition of an audition.

She said: “I was born in Alabama and have lived in the U.K. for the last 4 years. I have enjoyed dance and performance from a very early age, whether it is a school show, pantomime or a ballet production.

“I feel incredibly honoured to have been selected by the Atlanta State Ballet. I knewbeforehand that a lot of hard work lay ahead and leisure time would be at a premium, but this was a wonderful opportunity to learn from some of the most respected tutors in their field, like England’s own Rosemary Miles, from the Royal Academy of Dance,” she added.

Manchester High School for Girls Head Mistress Mrs Christine Lee-Jones said: “The School has a strong reputation for its Performing Arts programme and Heather is a highly talented dancer who continues to contribute so much in this field. This opportunity is very much deserved and I wish Heather the very best of luck in her endeavours with The Atlanta State Ballet.”