Dazzling dancer now in very good company

HOLLY Brennan, from Uppermill, is touring with the National Youth Dance Company

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AN Uppermill dancer is dazzling audiences up and down the country as part of a critically acclaimed National Youth Dance Company production.

At 17 former Saddleworth School student, Holly Brennan, has already achieved what many professional dancers dream of during their careers before hers has really begun.

Last summer the ballet and contemporary dance student was plucked from hundreds of hopefuls from across the country to join the NYDC based at the world renowned Sadler's Wells Theatre, in London.

The company snaps up only the UK's brightest talent to help influence the future of dance.

Holly was one of just 30 dancers to be recruited to the prestigious company and is currently touring in their "Tarantiseismic" production.

She and 38 other young dancers are on-stage for 40 minutes in the frenetic, fast-paced show by Belgian-French choreographer, Damien Jalet, which explores the themes of melancholia, ritual, control and abandon.

As well as studying BTEC Dance level three at Manchester College's Shena Simon campus, Holly is in her third year with the Centre for Advance Training at The Lowry.

Despite her incredible success she was rather late to the dance world, attending her first proper ballet class with Sarah England School of Dance, in Stalybridge, at the age of 11.

She said she was shocked to be successful in her first audition at the age of 14 which was for a place at the highly-regarded CAT where she practises for 14 hours a week.

She says she really is living her dream right now.

"It's been incredible working with NYDC and touring the show," said Holly.

"I can't believe that professional dancers dream of appearing on the Sadler's Wells stage and I've already done it in my teens.

"The whole experience with NYDC has been amazing, especially as I never thought I would make it. It's given me an insight into being a professional dancer and if I continue working hard hopefully I will achieve that."

Next year Holly hopes to study at a dance conservatoire when she finishes at Manchester College and CAT.