MORE than 30 young dancers from a Darlington academy are celebrating distinctions in their latest examinations.

The Tiffany School of Dance took more than 50 pupils for their Royal Academy of Dance ballet examinations, with six attaining over 90 per cent.

Three of the 33 pupils who achieved distinctions, Victoria Parker, Lauren Newton and Louise Barden, have also been accepted for training with the Yorkshire Youth Ballet.

Pupils sat their examinations at grades one to seven and at primary level.

A team from the school is also taking part in this year's Darlington Civic Theatre pantomime, Aladdin.

Following its successful show at the theatre in June 2000, which raised £5,000 for the Breakthrough Breast Cancer charity, the dance school is planning another event at the same venue on April 13.

Those who achieved distinctions were:

Primary: Danielle Wallace, Laura Devlin, Rosie Stokell, Frances Hodgson, Charlotte Lakey, Erin Denny, Kate Blakeborough, Emily Bonham, Emily Greensmith, Isla Pattison.

Grade One: Lucy Walker, Kate Pilbeam, Hannah Barron.

Grade Two: Eleanor Bonham, Amy Campbell, Lara Tysseling, Iona Hill, Leah Gordon.

Grade Three: Louise Barden, Laura Watson, Victoria Kelly.

Grade Four: Zoe Park, Grace Long, Victoria McCabe, Rebecca Chisholm, Bethany Simpson, Victoria Parker.

Grade Five: Beth Watson, Rachael Holdsworth, Ruth Pell-Ilderton, Lauren Newton.

Grade Seven: Anne Lowes, Sarah Dixon.