TALENTED Ryan Hamer is well on his way to achieving his dreams of becoming a West End dancer.
The Netherthong teenager is one of just 20 people who have been awarded a scholarship to the Northern Ballet School, Manchester.
Next week Ryan, 16, begins a three-year degree equivalent course at one of the country’s finest ballet academies.
Ryan, who honed his talent at the Huddersfield School of Theatre Dance, Armitage Bridge, beat over 1,000 hopefuls to win a free place at the school.
The course normally costs £12,000 a year.
Ryan said he was “over the moon” to have been selected for the course.
He said: “Thousands of people applied so I’m really lucky.
“I’m a bit nervous but quite excited.
“After I’ve finished I would like to get a job abroad or in the West End.
“I’d really like to join a ballet company.”
And Ryan said despite being anxious about leaving home he hoped he would succeed and one day emulate his hero, Royal Ballet star Carlos Acosta.
He added: “I’d like to be like him, maybe even better!”
Ryan began dancing aged seven before performing A Christmas Carol at The Grand, Leeds, aged 10.
It was there he chose dancing as his future career.
He passed auditions to perform for the Yorkshire Youth Ballet at Bradford Alhambra in 2004 before dancing Coppelia for the English Youth Ballet company at Preston Guildhall.
The former Holmfirth High School pupil enjoys jazz and tap dancing.
Naturally, his mum Linda and dad John are extremely proud of him.
John, 58, said: “He’s a shy lad but after he performed at Leeds Grand he couldn’t stop talking about it, saying it was what he always wanted to do.
“He’s always got distinction in his exams and earned the highest mark in his group.
“He has put in so much hard work to achieve this over the last 10 years, showing a dedication that has had to be seen to be believed.”
In July, 2009, Ryan was on stage at the Yorkshire Ballet Summer School Gala Evening at the Grand Theatre, York with Wayne Sleep, Sir Derek Jacobi, Sir Anthony Dowell, Samantha Bond and Ronnie Corbett.
