A GRACEFUL Gourock schoolgirl is stepping into the limelight after dancing rings around the competition from hundreds of hopefuls.

Anna Murray is one of just 30 youngsters to gain a place at the prestigious Scottish Ballet Junior Associate Programme at Tramway in Glasgow.

The 10-year-old is one of Julie Gunn’s pupils at the Elite Academy of Dance in Greenock.

Anna, a pupil at Moorfoot Primary, said: “I’m very excited about it.”

Anna lives with her parents Julie and Stuart and little sister Isla, seven, in Fletcher Avenue.

Julie said: “She saw this advertised on a leaflet from school and said she wanted to do it.

“Her teacher Julie said the programme was really difficult to get into but that she would put her forward for it.

“We thought it would be good just for the experience of an audition.”
Both her family and teacher are over the moon that Anna managed to secure a place.

Dance teacher Julie said: “I thought she had a really good chance — the audition lasts for an hour and there were 600 applicants for 30 spaces so it’s a great achievement.”

“Anna has got gorgeous feet and legs and she always looks so happy when she dances.”

Anna has been dancing since she was three and has been with Elite for five years and also dances with Alba Ballet.

She said: “I want to be a ballerina when I grow up.

“It’s hard practising but I like doing it.”

Her mum added: “She likes a challenge and has made a lot of new friends and idolises Julie.”