A West Cumbrian youngster will follow her dancing dreams after landing a place at a prestigious stage school.
Poppy Rankin, 16, of Asby, has been accepted for a three-year scholarship at Italia Conti in London to study a level 6 diploma in professional dance.
Italia Conti is one of the most respected performing arts colleges in the UK and former pupils include Dr Who star Karen Gillan, singer Pixie Lott and Russell Brand.
Poppy has been a dancer since she was five, initially at the Lakeland School of Dance. For the last six years, she has been a pupil of Ignite Dance Academy. She also dances as an Associate with Hammond College in Chester, Seek Dance Company in Stockport and also trains in dance and acting with national group, Stagebox and Phoenix Dance Company in Birmingham.
She also loves being part of StagedRight Youth Theatre in Carlisle and is looking forward to taking part in its production of Phantom of the Opera in July at the Sands Centre. She has also danced with the English Youth Ballet and appeared in the Sands Centre pantomime.
Poppy said her ambitions were to work in musical theatre the West End and ultimately own and run her own dance school.
