A young dance star has won a scholarship to turn her passion into a career.

Lindley 16-year-old Emma Chapman, who is an Audrey Spencer School of Theatre Dance pupil, beat off competition to win the £2,000 award from Huddersfield company Synergos Consultancy Ltd, after wowing judges with her flair for the art form and her creativity.

She undertook a jazz and tap workshop before performing a prepared dance piece choreographed by herself and a song and a monologue.

Her prize money will be used to pay for her lessons for a year and to pay for extra training through workshops, courses and singing lessons.

It is the latest achievement for Emma, who has been involved in a number of local amateur productions over the years and recently performed in the musical ‘Hairspray’ with the Huddersfield Musical Theatre Company.

The cast of Hairspray by Huddersfield Musical Theatre Company, in rehearsal

She joined the Audrey Spencer school in 2003 at the age of four and attends classes for ten hours per week alongside her studies in Musical Theatre, Dance and Film Studies at Huddersfield New College to help her break into the industry professionally.

She said: “I am very happy and extremely proud to have received this year’s award”.

Joanne Perkins, Principal of the Audrey Spencer School of theatre Dance, said: “Our dance pupils are very lucky to have this fantastic opportunity given to them.

“I’m sure many will strive over the years to achieve this award and gain valuable experience in doing so”.