UK teen wins place at the Bolshoi

A Cheshire teenager has become only the third British boy to win a place at the elite Bolshoi Ballet School in the Russian academy's 233-year history.

Daniel Dolan, 16, from Widnes, started his dance career aged four when he swapped his rugby boots for ballet shoes, said his father Peter.

Male Bolshoi dancers are known for power and athleticism. Daniel said: "I hope to uphold this tradition."

The dancer starts at the academy in August if he can find the £15,000 fees.

His father said the family were looking for sponsors and charitable donations.

'A great honour'

"This opportunity is a great honour and if he fails in finding help with the fees he will be unable to attend," he said.

Before being accepted for the Moscow ballet school, Daniel had already shown his talent.

He won a scholarship to summer camp at America's number one academy, New York's Julliard which only accepted 44 students from around the world.

Daniel trained at Liverpool's Elliot Clarke School of Dance until he was 11 and continued his training with a scholarship at The Hammond School in Chester until present.

He has performed with the Birmingham Royal Ballet and the English Youth Ballet.

Daniel said: "I'm very much looking forward to adding the stages of New York and Moscow to this list."