A TALENTED teenage ballet dancer is well on his way to achieving the heights set by his hero.

Kilmacolm youngster Charlie Scott was inspired after seeing the Billy Elliot stage show in London about the young son of a miner who becomes a professional ballet dancer.

Charlie, 13, is studying at the prestigious Dance School of Scotland in Glasgow and is preparing to take part in its special showcase at the city’s Royal Concert Hall.

He started at Bridge of Weir’s Terry Ferguson School of Dance in January 2013, and, after six months of training, achieved distinction in his grade two ballet exam.

In the summer of 2014 he successfully auditioned for Scottish Ballet junior associates, and started training with them in August of that year.

At the same time as being associate, he auditioned for Scottish Ballet’s new production of the Nutcracker, and performed with them over several months in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Newcastle.

At the end of the two years as a junior associate, Charlie then auditioned for The Dance School of Scotland for full time vocational training, was once again successful and started full-time there in August 2016.

It is Scotland’s only fully-funded centre of excellence for vocational dance.

Students receive free specialist tuition from dance professionals in state of the art’ facilities.

Charlie – whose sister, Cara, 10, auditioned successfully for Scottish Ballet last year and currently trains with them once a week – says he would love to enjoy an international career in dance.

He told the Tele: “My ambition is to perform with Scottish Ballet and tour to different countries.

“I loved performing with them in the Nutcracker, and I really enjoy being at the Dance School and taking classes every day and rehearsing for my first showcase with all my friends.”

The Dance School’s showcase is a mixed programme of modern, jazz, contemporary and ballet pieces based on the theme of legends.

It will be staged on the evenings of June 14 and 15, as well as a matinee on the second day and tickets are available at www.glasgowconcerthalls.com