TWO Newport dance students have gained places on prestigious dance and musical theatre courses.

Elissa Taylor and Frances Watkins study ballet, tap, modern and jazz at the Sharon Fitzgerald School of Dance.

Nineteen-year-old Elissa has won a place at the American Musical Theatre Academy in London which will take her to America to work with some of the top teachers from the musical theatre industry.

Meanwhile 18-year-old Frances has been accepted on to a three-year course at SLP College in Leeds, studying dance and musical theatre.

Miss Watkins has also been a jazz scholar in London with the British Ballet Organisation studying with some of the best teachers in the UK.

Another student at the Newport dance school will be performing with the English Youth Ballet in Cardiff this weekend.

Ellie Davidson, 10, will perform in Coppelia with the company at the New Theatre.

School owner Ms Fitzgerald said: “I am very proud of all three of the students and wish them well. They are all very dedicated and hard-working students.”