STUDENTS from the Northern Dance Centre's Ilkley and Skipton classes are celebrating some 'truly outstanding' achievements.

The school has just held its 70th anniversary show at the Alhambra Theatre, Bradford, which featured some 400 children.

The show was a great success and many of its pupils have gone off on their summer holidays with plenty of other reasons to celebrate, too.

Among them are nine year olds Hattie Stocks and Erin Brailsford who are both now Junior Associates of the Royal Ballet School, with Erin also a Cecchetti Associate.

Thirteen year old Ruby Picken, meanwhile, is an Associate of Northern Ballet in Leeds who has been accepted for the second year running into the National Youth Ballet company.

Northern Dance Centre Principal Amy Addison said: "Hattie and Erin they have done extremely well as places are so scarce for the Royal Ballet.

"Ruby has also danced with English Youth Ballet and will be dancing at Sadlers Wells, in London, in September.

"They usually only accept children from full time dance schools like the Royal Ballet School, so Ruby has done exceptionally well to get through a tough audition process."

Other students who have notched up significant achievements include ten year old Verity Picken - the winner of the centre's Ballet Scholarships this year, in memory of founder Margaret Jaffe - who has been accepted as an Associate of Northern Ballet for the second year.

Also celebrating are fellow pupils:

*Harry Mitchell, 12, who has been asked to join the Associate programme at Northern Ballet in Leeds

*Rosie Robinson, 13, who has been asked to join the Senior Associate programme at Northern Ballet in Leeds

*Thirteen year olds Daisy Newton and Mabel Vincent, who have been asked to join the Centre for Advanced Training Programme at Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds

*Ten year old Poppy Newton, who is now an Associate of SLP dance studios in Leeds.

Amy added: "The children at our anniversary show were amazing and surpassed all our expectations - the performance was the highlight of the year and a perfect way to celebrate Northern Dance Centre's 70th birthday, and we were delighted to welcome back lots of old friends, families, teachers and students.

"The school has always been known for its 'family atmosphere' and the focus in our classes remains simply on enjoyment and building confidence, and this allows the children to have fun whilst achieving excellent results.

"We are proud of our Distinction record in RAD Ballet exams along with outstanding results in ISTD and LAMDA exams.

"We have a three-week Summer School in August, and then in September we are introducing new Contemporary, Musical Theatre and Acrobatics exams."

To find out more about the school's classes in Ilkley, Skipton or Burley-in-Wharfedale visit www.northerndancecentre.com .