Matthew Cruddace-Wynne, who has been accepted as a junior associate with the Royal School of Ballet

AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD boy with a passion for dancing has taken his first step toward realising his dream of following a career on stage.

Matthew Cruddace-Wynne admits breaking into tears of joy when he learned he had won the rare distinction of being made a junior associate of the Royal School of Ballet.

Matthew lives in Chester-le- Street, where he attends the Lewis School of Dance.

He said: "It is my dream to go on stage. Ever since I was little I wanted to do drama and dance. I have been on the stage three times, including a production of Dick Whittington.

"I was really nervous when I went for my audition for the Royal School of Ballet. But I was just myself. I was so happy when I found out I had been chosen, that I burst into tears."

Matthew, of Red Rose Primary School, will attend classes in Leeds until the age of 11, when he can decide if he wants to go full-time to the school in London's Richmond Park.

His mother, Gayle Cruddace- Wynne said she and his father Adrian were excited for Matthew and fully behind him.

She said: "Even though it will break out hearts to see him go - we both fully support him. It is something he wants. Every day in his spare time I find him in his bedroom making up dance routines and working out what steps to do to music.

She added: "We have always taken him to theatre. He writes his own plays and gets his friends to perform in them."

Marion Lewis, who runs the Lewis School of Dance, said: "Matthew has been dancing for only two years and has already passed his Grade One with the Royal Academy for dancing.

"The examiner commented on how talented he was so we got an allocation for auditioning to be a junior associate. It is an enormous achievement for a boy of his age."

11:02am Friday 4th July 2008

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