EIGHTEEN-year old Ruby Morel from Lydford has gained a place at one of the leading contemporary dance schools in the country.

Ruby has just started at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London on the BA (Hons) contemporary dance course. This is where celebrated choreographer Sir Matthew Bourne began his career.

She started dancing at three years old with SJS Dance Academy and took classes both in Tavistock and Stoke Climsland studying ballet, tap, jazz and contemporary dance.

Ruby worked through the Royal Academy of Dance ballet examinations and achieved both Grade 8 and Intermediate.

The dancer developed her own unique way of moving and this led her to explore other opportunities in the region in order to gain more experience in contemporary dance.

She danced with The Hall for Cornwall Youth Company, Company B at The Barbican in Plymouth and most recently with Chhaya Youth Dance which is based in Exeter.

Suzanne Sanders, principal of SJS Dance Academy, said: ‘It has been a pleasure to teach Ruby for all these years and to see her grow into such a confident and expressive dancer.

‘I could not be happier that she has gained a place at Laban as this is where I trained before going to the Royal Academy.

‘Laban has changed significantly over the years and I am sure Ruby will enjoy the amazing purpose built facilities they now have as opposed to the cold halls we used to train in!’