Natalie Carter talks to the Watford Observer about her achievements at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy

In yesterday's Watford Observer, Natalie Carter, a young girl studying at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy and supported by The Genesis Foundation, spoke of her joy at becoming the first British girl to train for a full diploma at a prestigious Russian ballet school.

Michael Pickard writes:

After a gruelling first year at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow, during which she got to grips with the language and an unforgiving class timetable, Natalie has passed her exams and secured a spot on a three-year diploma course.

Natalie, 17, was invited to apply for the Bolshoi after impressing Svetlana Adyrkhaeva, a former principal dancer at the Russian school, when she saw the teenager perform with The Gypsy Booth School and College of Theatre Arts in South Oxhey last year.

She was placed on a preliminary course designed to bring her technique up to other girls' standards as she had not come from a dancing background, attending Watford Grammar School for Girls.

However, in the past 12 months Natalie suffered a number of injuries to her stomach, foot and hip, which forced her to stop dancing for several weeks.

But she was able to prove herself to her teachers and win the chance to train for a full diploma at the school.

To read the full article, please visit http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/8223962.Ballerina_wins_diploma_spot_at_Bolshoi_Ballet_Academy/