A DREAM came true for would-be prima ballerina Antonia Barrass on her 11th birthday when she received a letter from a world famous ballet school.
She was one of only 16 dancers chosen from 4,000 entrants worldwide to win a place at the Royal Ballet School, in London.
Antonia, who has been dancing since she was three, is only the third girl from the North-East to join the school in 34 years.
Confirmation that she had passed two strenuous auditions came in a letter to her home in Byermoor, Gateshead, as she and her twin brother, Alex, celebrated their birthdays.
Antonia, who has been appearing in panto at The Theatre Royal, Newcastle, for four years, said: "I have always wanted to be a ballerina since I saw the film Swan Lake when I was five.
"I was surprised when I learned I had got a place at the ballet school. It was like a dream come true and it came on my birthday."
Antonia's sister, Katie, 17, is also a dancer and joined the Leah Bell production company last year.
Published: 26/04/2004
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