Amy loved to dance; she started having lessons when she was just 2 ½ years old. Her mummy took her once a week to the local dancing school. She picked up the steps very quickly and in no time at all she was taking her first exam passing it easily.

When she was 3 ½ she was having lessons with the big girls, ones who were at least 7 or 8 years old, she amazed her dancing teacher Miss Hardy with her eagerness to learn and her grace “ one day Amy you will be a world class dancer, I just know it” she would say.

Amy got better and better as the years passed and by the time she was 8 years old she was easily the best dancer at Miss Hardy’s school. It was getting very expensive for Amy’s parents to pay for all her lessons so Amy would help her with all the jobs around the school like cleaning the floor, polishing the mirrors and tidying up the props cupboard.

A couple of years passed and one Saturday morning Amy arrived very early at the Dancing school, she was going to help get things ready for the first lesson at 9.30.The school was open but in darkness, Amy shouted in the office “Hello Miss Hardy, it’s me Amy” there was no answer. She went into the dance hall “ Hello” she shouted again turning on all the lights……….but that was empty too!

She decided to get on with her usual jobs, Amy knew what to do she had done them so often, Sweep the floors, polish the mirrors and get the props out for the morning lessons. Right that’s all done she said to herself………..it was still very early and as yet no sign of Miss Hardy.

Amy put on some music; she might as well practice while she was waiting. She chose her favourite tune and after warming up she picked up her two long green ribbons she used in her favourite dance. This dance was the opening scene in the dance schools annual show and this year for the first time the Lord and Lady Mayor were attending so she wanted it to be perfect.

The music filled the hall and Amy started to dance. How she moved was just magical…….she leapt high into the air, pirouetting and landing as light as a feather on her feet, the dance was immaculate, every step perfect, her toes pointed as sharp as a pin the silk green ribbons twisting and curling in the air………she ended dramatically, her head bent over her toes her legs outstretched in the splits.

“BRAVO, BRAVO” shouted Miss Hardy clapping her hands enthusiastically, with her was a very distinguished gentleman wearing a smart suit, spectacles and a bright red bow tie ……he was grinning broadly and clapping alongside Miss Hardy.





“This is Amy our star pupil” said Miss Hardy “the one I brought you here to see”.

“BRAVO Amy .I have heard a lot about you, all good” he added. “I am Mr Philips from the Royal Ballet School in London. I have travelled here this morning and Miss Hardy has just kindly collected me from the train station to come and see you perform and I must say I am very impressed”.

Amy knew nothing about this as Miss Hardy had kept it a secret; she didn’t want to get Amy’s hopes up just to disappoint her so she kept quiet about Mr Philips visit.

“Your dancing is as magical as Miss Hardy described, you certainly have a natural gift. I am here today to offer you a place at The Royal Ballet School in London. Don’t worry about the money it will all be paid for. A talent such as yours must be nourished and shared with the world” he continued “I will speak to your parents immediately, I am sure they will be delighted”.

Amy stood there hardly able to believe her ears, The Royal Ballet School………..a place she had often dreamt about, she had posters on her walls and a cupboard full of programs in her bedroom drawer which she had collected over the years…..all the famous ballet dancers started there, it was too good to be true.

A meeting was arranged with Amy’s parent, Mr Philips and Miss Hardy ,they were almost as delighted as Amy…….of course it would be a lot of hard work and they would miss her terribly as she would  live at the dancing school but what an opportunity it was, it couldn’t be missed and they could see each other at weekends and the long school holidays.

 At the Royal Ballet School, Amy worked really hard and became their star pupil. She went on to be a principle dancer.

She has now performed many times for Kings, Queens Princes and Princesses and often looks back with great fondness at her years with Miss Hardy’s dancing school and her favourite dance as a child………..

The one with the Green Silk Ribbons