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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| UK ballerina lands Bolshoi place | UK ballerina lands Bolshoi place |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A 16-year-old British ballet dancer said she is "excited but terrified" at being offered a place at the elite Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Russia. | A 16-year-old British ballet dancer said she is "excited but terrified" at being offered a place at the elite Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Russia. |
| Natalie Carter, who took up ballet aged nine, beat thousands of hopefuls to secure her place at the Moscow school. | Natalie Carter, who took up ballet aged nine, beat thousands of hopefuls to secure her place at the Moscow school. |
| The Watford teenager is only the fourth British dancer to be given a place in the academy's 230-year history. | The Watford teenager is only the fourth British dancer to be given a place in the academy's 230-year history. |
| She was spotted by a former Bolshoi dancer performing at the Gypsy Booth dance school in Watford. | She was spotted by a former Bolshoi dancer performing at the Gypsy Booth dance school in Watford. |
| Svetlana Adyrkhaeva, a former Bolshoi ballerina, was taking a masterclass at the school when she spotted Natalie's natural talent and asked her to send an audition tape. | Svetlana Adyrkhaeva, a former Bolshoi ballerina, was taking a masterclass at the school when she spotted Natalie's natural talent and asked her to send an audition tape. |
| Natalie had already been accepted to a London ballet school when she was offered the year-long place at the Bolshoi. | Natalie had already been accepted to a London ballet school when she was offered the year-long place at the Bolshoi. |
| "I was initially shocked and I felt really, really awful," Natalie told BBC Radio 4. "I had been offered a place at Central Ballet School and I was so excited to go there and move to London and be there with all my friends. | "I was initially shocked and I felt really, really awful," Natalie told BBC Radio 4. "I had been offered a place at Central Ballet School and I was so excited to go there and move to London and be there with all my friends. |
| "But then I got this email to say I was going to be moving to Russia, which is a bit of a difference! It was incredible, but I was in bits and bawling my eyes out." | "But then I got this email to say I was going to be moving to Russia, which is a bit of a difference! It was incredible, but I was in bits and bawling my eyes out." |
| Natalie can expect 40 hours a week of intensive ballet class when she moves to Moscow at the end of the month. | Natalie can expect 40 hours a week of intensive ballet class when she moves to Moscow at the end of the month. |
| Russian lessons | Russian lessons |
| None of the British girls who have previously studied at the Academy have progressed beyond the first year. | None of the British girls who have previously studied at the Academy have progressed beyond the first year. |
| "I imagine the training will be very strict, but if I listen to them and do exactly as they tell me I should be completely fine," Natalie said. | "I imagine the training will be very strict, but if I listen to them and do exactly as they tell me I should be completely fine," Natalie said. |
| "I have been taught by Russian teachers before so it is not going to be completely new to me." | "I have been taught by Russian teachers before so it is not going to be completely new to me." |
| "I'll be taught in French, all the dance movements will be in French, but corrections and when they tell me to do something will all be in Russian. | "I'll be taught in French, all the dance movements will be in French, but corrections and when they tell me to do something will all be in Russian. |
| "I have never, ever spoken Russian before in my life, but I get two hour language lessons a day and hopefully I'll pick it up quickly." | "I have never, ever spoken Russian before in my life, but I get two hour language lessons a day and hopefully I'll pick it up quickly." |
| Natalie's mother, Sue, sent out thousands of letters to local businesses and charities seeking sponsorship to help meet her daughter's fees. | Natalie's mother, Sue, sent out thousands of letters to local businesses and charities seeking sponsorship to help meet her daughter's fees. |
| Natalie added: "I've been very lucky. My mother sent out thousands upon thousands of letters and I have been really lucky to receive so many donations from charities and sponsors. | Natalie added: "I've been very lucky. My mother sent out thousands upon thousands of letters and I have been really lucky to receive so many donations from charities and sponsors. |
| "It has all helped so much, the money has been put towards fees, my ballet shoes, my leotards, there is so much to pay for." | "It has all helped so much, the money has been put towards fees, my ballet shoes, my leotards, there is so much to pay for." |