BALLET dancer Katherine Strange has won a place at the prestigious Northern Ballet School but cannot go unless she raises the £7,500-a-year fees.

With additional living expenses of around £6,000 for the three-year course, Katherine's family are having to find a total of more than £30,000 to help their talented daughter hone her artistic skills.

Katherine, 16, has been dancing since she was four and her dream came true when she passed the audition at the famous Manchester school, which attracts head-hunting dance companies from all over the world.

Since her family moved to Draughton from Kent recently, Katherine has been under the tutelage of renowned local dance teacher Margaret Jaff, who runs the Northern Dance Centre in Skipton.

Katherine said: "The bottom line is that I won't be able to go if I don't get the backing. I might be on the verge of a small grant but it won't be enough to cover it.

"It would be great if any local businesses could help by sponsoring me through my training.

"If not, I will stay on to do my A-levels at Ilkley Grammar School. But the trouble is that by the time you're 18 you're technically too old to start training. All my suppleness will be gone by then."

Katherine's mum Susan said the Arts Council will pay for half the tuition fees if North Yorkshire County Council puts up an initial £1,250.

But Katherine will still need all the help she can get to cobble together the rest of the money needed.

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