A TEENAGE ballet dancer has won a place at a prestigious dance school.

Zach Regan, 13, pitted his skills against 200 other young dancers to win a coveted invitation to attend The Place London Contemporary Dance School.

Echo:

West End dream - Zach Regan

The Eastwood Academy pupil will take his place at the prestigious Camden dance school during weekends from September.

He will continue his academic studies at Eastwood Academy and will be funded for classes at the Morgan Academy of Performing Arts in Leigh during the week.

His proud mum Janne-Marie of Fairfield Road, Eastwood, said: “Zach only got interested in dance at the age of ten when he told myself and my husband that he wanted do ballet. It came out of nowhere.

“After ringing round lots of schools we decided on Morgan Academy as they currently have quite a few boys attending classes.

“He has progressed really quickly and earned himself some scholarship places. We’re really proud of him. He’s told me his goal is to be in the West End. He comes alive when he dances.”

Wanda Morgan, founder of the Morgan Academy in Leigh, said: “We are extremely proud of Zach. “The Place is very highly regarded in the dance community.

“We encourage boys to take up dance.

“We have quite a lot now, seven juniors and five seniors.

“It’s nice to see a whole group of boys rather than just one. I think it’s because we do theatre and drama as well as dance.”

Zach admitted to being a bit nervous at his audition.

He said: “It was a bit nerve wracking. I had a vague idea of what it would be like. It lasted about two hours. Then I had to go back for an interview that lasted about 15 minutes.”

Zach added: “They asked me why I danced and I told them because it’s my passion and it makes me happy.

“I like ballet but I think contemporary dance is my favourite now.”