A TALENTED young Ryedale dancer has been awarded Government-funded places at two prestigious dance schools.

St Mary's RC Primary School pupil Imogen Myers, 11, of Castle Howard Drive, Malton, has won one of ten places available at Elmhurst in association with the Royal Ballet, in Birmingham, and has been offered one of only eight places available at Arts Educational School, in Tring, Hertfordshire.

Both places would be funded by the Government's Department for Education and Skill scheme to aid children that are talented in either music or classical dance.

"Of course, I'm really proud. I'm proud of her determination, she wanted to do this and she's done it," said Imogen's mother Jo Myers, an English teacher at Malton School.

"I'm delighted that her talents have been recognised. She loves classical dancing. Ever since she was a small child, she's had a natural proclivity for it. She also plays the piano and loves music and writing."

Imogen, who has a brother and a sister, Joseph, 4, and Jemima, 8, dances at Kirkham Henry school, Horsemarket Road, Malton. She has been a Yorkshire ballet scholar in York for two years and is a junior associate of the Royal Ballet.

She has won several cups in dancing festivals. Imogen plans to accept the offer from Elmhurst, whose former pupils include Sarah Brightman, and will attend Malton School for a month before she begins in October.

Updated: 14:44 Wednesday, June 09, 2004