Taia, from Hampton Hargate, has won a place at the Cecchetti Ballet School in London, after beating competition from dozens of other dancers from across the country.

The talented 10-year-old will start her classes in the capital in September, and her mother, Maria, said she could not wait to start.

Mrs Johnstone said: "Taia is really excited about her opportunity to go to the school.

"It is one of the most important ballet schools in the country, and it took a lot of hard work for her to get in."

Before she was accepted, Taia, of Malus Close, had to go through a tough audition process, and Mrs Johnstone said: "We couldn't believe it when she got in. There were so many children there."

Taia's tutor Pat Garfield said that she was proud of her pupil's achievements.

She said: "Only a few children manage to get on the course every year. To gain a place is extremely good.

"Taia has done so well, as she is still only young, and this is only her second experience of auditions.

"It will do her so much good, both for her confidence and to learn from other dance teachers."

Taia, who started dancing five years ago, will now make three trips to the school every term, where she will not only be given ballet classes, but take lessons in other styles of dance as well.

Mrs Garfield said: "She is very good. She has shown a lot of potential, and is keen to learn and very hardworking."

The school is named after Enrico Cecchetti, who was born in Italy in 1850.

At the height of his career as a dancer he migrated to St Petersburg, where he joined the Imperial Russian Ballet and created the virtuoso role of the Bluebird and the mime role of Carabosse in the premiere of The Sleeping Beauty in 1890.

As well as dancing with the Imperial Russian Ballet Company, Cecchetti also taught the Class of Perfection in the school.

In 1918 he opened a school of dancing in London, and in 1923 he returned to Italy where he accepted the post of Director of the Ballet School in La Scala, Milan.