A FORMIDABLE foursome of ballet dancers have taken a giant leap forward in their careers.

The local girls, who have trained with Elite Ballet in Greenock for many years, are all heading off to prestigious dance schools.

Greenock Telegraph:

The pupils are fresh from taking part in the Academy's summer show at the Beacon Arts Centre, marking the end of its 14th year in Inverclyde.

Avril McLoughlin, 18, from Inverkip, has been with Elite since was two and took part in the baby class.

She has been accepted for a place on the musical theatre course at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Hannah Deary and Hope Wallace, both 14, have clinched places at the Dance School of Scotland.

They began at baby ballet classes and are the only fourth year pupils in Scotland to gain a place at the prestigious national academy.

Hope, of Largs, said: "I am really excited, it's a chance to meet new people and learn new types of dance I've never learned before.

Portonian Hannah told the Tele: "I'm really happy about it. I'm also a bit nervous."

Anna Murray, 17, from Gourock, who has been with Elite for 12 years, is heading off to Edinburgh to the MGA Academy of Performing Arts to do an honours degree in dance.

She said: "I feel so lucky, I can't believe I was accepted. It's scary but I'm excited too."

The quartet have thrived under the leadership of teacher Julie Kavanagh who is thrilled by their success.

Julie said: "I am so proud of them all. I've taught them for so long, I love them like my own kids.

"I am keen to find out how they get on in their new schools."

Elite Academy of Dance was established by Julie in 2009 and it remains the only dedicated Royal Academy of Dance classical ballet school in Inverclyde.

The school currently runs 27 ballet classes every week from its private studio in Greenock.

This allows a steady progression from the Baby Ballet classes right through to classes for students in their late teens and early twenties.

Elite also runs a Silverswans programme twice a week for the over 50s.

All classes follow the Royal Academy’s syllabus and over the years Elite has developed into a centre of excellence for classical ballet.

Anyone interested in becoming one of Elite's next generation of ballerinas can email balletinverclyde@gmail.com