A GIFTED young ballet dancer has pivoted her way into the country’s top dance company.

Sarah James, nine, from Gourock, saw off competition from hundreds of young dancers to be selected for an elite Scottish Ballet training programme.

The hard-working youngster will now be put through her paces with classically trained dancers.

Now Sarah will be following in the footsteps of her mentor, Grafitti dance teacher Lucy Robertson, who also came through the same ‘junior associate’ ranks.

Proud mum Heather, of Larkfield Road, said: “Sarah works so hard. She is always dancing and practices every single day — she is committed.

“I can’t thank Lucy enough because she has supported her every step of the way. Sarah has been dancing with her since she was three years old.

“I just love to watch Sarah dance. It is fantastic that she is now a junior associate. The audition was tough but she is just so hard working.” From now on Sarah will continue dancing locally, but will also attend classes in Glasgow.

It was a visit to watch Scottish Ballet that inspired her to try for a coveted junior associate place.

Her mum added: “She saw the Nutcracker and decided that this was what she wanted to do.” Delighted ballet teacher Lucy, 27, of Wemyss Bay, pictured below, said: “Sarah’s natural ability is just amazing. It is fantastic to work with someone who is so committed.

“She is naturally talented but she works so hard it is incredible. If she keeps that up there is nothing to stop her.” Ballet teacher Lucy sees so much of Sarah in herself at that age.

She added “Like Sarah, I was a junior associate and I ended up at the Scotland School of Dance at Knightswood. I stayed there during the week and went home at the weekend.

“It is great to help give someone else that opportunity.” Lynne Cameron, who runs the Grafitti Dance Troupe and also owns Dazzles Dance Studio, said: “It is a wonderful achievement for Sarah and really acknowledges the hard work and dedication put in by both Sarah and her teacher Lucy.

“For Sarah to be selected confirms my belief that she is definitely a very successful dancer in the making.”