A dance student has won a grant for her studies at a Beatle-founded college.

Emily Bainbridge, 19, is a leading success story for her former school CJ’s Dance and Fitness in Dover following a mass of exam triumphs for other pupils there.

Emily has been awarded a £1, 000 grant towards her dance college expenses at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts by The Arts and Sports Trust.

She had been awarded a place there last May.

The trustees considered her application among many others stating:"‘Emily’s passion and ambition shines through, and the quality of her performance touches all those who watch her.”

The centre was co-founded by Sir Paul McCartney, replacing his and bandmate George Harrison’s old secondary school.

CJ’s principal Carol Jenkins said: “Its been such a lovely way to start the new year, with fantastic exam results from current pupils who have all worked so hard and a grant for a pupil who is so dedicated in her pursuit to be a professional dancer.

“Emily has stayed in contact with everyone at CJ's and when home from Liverpool always comes in to help teach at the school.

"We all look forward to her developing as a professional dancer.”

Meanwhile everyone at CJ’s who took their Grade 3 acrobatic exam passed with a distinction, the highest mark possible.

Young acro dancers also took their Silver Rose Acro Awards and all were given either an Honours or Honours Star.

Acro is a type of dance that includes acrobatic movements.

Other exams were taken in ballet, tap and modern jazz with a 100% pass rate.

This included nine distinctions, 13 merits, and in the younger dancers 26 Honours Star and 20 Honours.

The examiner also awarded the Pencester Road centre with an excellence score for organisation and facilities.

The youngest pupil all received trophies for their work while the older children had to work in areas such as flexibilty, and acro skills to gain their Grade 3 certificate.

All children are now working towards performing at show at the Gulbenkian Theatre in Canterbury in May whle the pre-school children have their own show at Dover’s White Cliffs Theatre in April.

New pupils are always welcome to this dance school and should contact Carol or Rachel on 07967 707074 or email info@cjdanceandfitness.co.uk to book a free trial class.