A TALENTED dancer from Norfolk has been paying thanks to her family and dance teachers after securing a �40,000 scholarship to a top London arts college.

Andi-Louise Horne, of Clark Road, Ditchingham, was accepted to all five prestigious dance colleges she applied for and cried when she found out she had been awarded the scholarship to her first choice school, Laine Theatre of Arts in Epsom.

'It's all really good, it's kind of over-whelming and it doesn't seem real,' she said. 'I'm just glad I got into my first choice. I cried when I found out and hugged my mum.'

The Bungay High Sixth Form student, who also received her A-Levels yesterday, started dancing aged five-years-old at the Beccles branch of the June Glennie School of Dance, on Smallgate.

'Tap was my favourite form of dancing, I just really enjoyed it and I really liked the teacher. Now my favourite is ballet. After I moved from the Beccles school to the Lowestoft June Glennie at the age of 12 I just started to enjoy it more.'

The 18-year-old said she wanted to be a dancer for as long as she could remember and added: 'Everyone has been so good to me and all my dance teachers have put in so much time and effort and my family have been amazing. They use to drive me to competitions and put up with me when I got stressed.'

Miss Horne emphasised that rural places in Norfolk and Suffolk were gems for 'hidden talent' and should not be forgotten in the world of creative arts.

'There is lots of creative talent round here, there are amazing dancers and singers. Living in this area shouldn't put them off and I would say to them just to believe in themselves and just go for it - Mum and Dad have believed in me all the time. There are people around here doing great things.'

One of her favourite achievements to date was staring in the production of 'Ruby', a Royal Ballet adaptation of 'The Wizard of Oz' at the Theatre Royal in Norwich last year. The production was choreographed by Jackie Barrett of the Royal Ballet and Miss Horne had the lead role of the Wicked Witch.

'It's a great to do a bit of acting too,' she added.

She has also danced for many of the June Glennie's School of Dance charity events over the years, raising money for a variety of causes, including Beccles Hospital. She also recently completed a skydive to raise money for the school's charity Shoestring.

Miss Horne is due to start dance college in the next few weeks and is 'counting down the days'. She explained that she wants to try her hand at everything and hopes to go on to dance in music videos, work on cruise ships or hit the big time in the West End.

'Mrs Glennie said it was remarkable I got accepted into all five colleges I applied for.'

Currently training for three hours a day, Miss Horne will be dedicating 12 hours each day to dancing, singing and acting once she starts her course in September, and will be focusing on street dance, contemporary, ballet and tap. But not to be phased by this she smiled and added: 'The feeling I get when I dance, it's indescribable. I just want to do it all the time. Dancing is my life.

'I have to give a huge thank you to the June Glennie School of Dance, including to Mrs Glennie and Lionel, Ruth, Beth, Sharon, Sue and Murrey, for the tuition, patience, belief and passion which has shaped me into the person I am today. I wouldn't have been able to do it without them.'

Her parents, Andy and Ashley Horne, added: 'We are both incredibly proud. The whole family are proud.

'Over the years Andi has been 100pc committed to her dancing and never missed class. She has been privileged to dance in some amazing theatres such as The Royal Opera House London and The Peacock Theatre to name a few.

'The training given has enhanced her personality and she is a beautiful girl with a bubbly, infectious personality.'