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Dancer, 16, wins place at one of Russia’s best ballet schools
24.08.09
A london teenager is to become the fourth British girl to study at a prestigious Russian ballet school.
Natalie Carter, 16, right, beat thousands of hopefuls to win a place at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow.
She will practise for 40 hours a week, as well as studying Russian every day, after she arrives at the school on 30 August.
Natalie, from Watford, began learning ballet aged nine at the town's Gypsy Booth dance school. She had already been accepted to London's Central School of Ballet when the Bolshoi, which was set up in 1773, offered her a place.
Svetlana Adyrkhaeva, a former Bolshoi Ballet principal dancer, encouraged Natalie to apply when she saw her dance last September.
Natalie said: “When I found out I was scared but very excited. It is one of the best opportunities ever given to me to fulfil my dream of becoming a professional ballerina.”
