The proud team that runs the Susan Handy School of Dancing is celebrating the success of six of its pupils who have gained places in top vocational dance schools and London West End shows.

The school runs classes across the Royal Borough in Windsor, Old Windsor, Eton, Eton Wick and Datchet. Pupils range in age from 18 months to 18-years-old studying ballet, contemporary dance, modern, tap and creative. There are also classes for adults in ballet and tap.

This September sees six pupils embarking on careers as professional dancers.

Iris Gazet, 11, has gained a place at Elmhurst Ballet School which feeds Royal Ballet Company, as well as theatre and television; while eight-year-old Indiana Banfield has gained a place as a Junior Associate at The Royal Ballet School at Covent Garden.

Two 12-year-olds are also doing well - Isabella Foat is currently performing in Fiddler on the Roof at The Playhouse in London’s West End while Kitty Cox-Harrison is performing with the London Children’s Ballet Company at The Peacock Theatre.

Elsa Eastmond, 16, has won a place at the Royal Ballet Senior Summer School at Covent Garden. While Holly Lidgate, 18, has a place at London Studio Centre vocational school where she will train for three years in musical theatre and dance.

The Susan Handy School of Dance began 45 years ago. Mrs Handy had danced professionally with The London Ballet Company dancing with Dame Margot Fonteyn in the recently remastered BBC film of Sleeping Beauty and choreographed original ballets at Sadler's Wells.

She once said: "I never wanted to teach. Then I was asked to start a small dance class for the children of staff at Eton College. It started with six pupils and grew. I have 600 pupils now."