Barnsley ballerina third ever British women to graduate from Bolshoi acclaimed academy
A BALLERINA from Barnsley has the world at her feet after an amazing four years with Moscow’s Bolshoi Ballet.
Tala Lee-Turton is third ever British girl to graduate from Moscow’s Bolshoi Ballet
Tala Lee-Turton, 20, is only the third British girl to graduate from the elite Russian academy in its 243-year history.
Her single parent mum Sara Turton raised £15,000 towards the £20,000 cost of her first year and repeated the feat through sponsorship each year.
“We’ve done everything from bag-packing in supermarkets to cake raffles,” she said.
“We’ve had fantastic support from the community. People are so generous.”
The ballerina is pictured here with her mum who fiercely fundraised for her tuition
Tala “graduated” on Tuesday into a job with the Royal Moscow Ballet and could end up dancing anywhere in the world.
I’m going to continue fighting to pursue my dreams
She said: “The best thing about the Bolshoi is the amazing opportunity to learn in every form of life and dance.
"The worst thing is the cold. Sometimes I can’t feel my hands when I’m shopping.”
She began at Fearons Middleton School of Dance in Barnsley aged four.
The dance graduate's ambition is to perform in Swan Lake
At the Bolshoi her weekly timetable included gymnastics, character-building, historical dance, make-up, modern dance, acting, repertoire and pointe work.
She also studied the Russian language.
The graduate's mum raised £15,000 from fundraising so her daughter could study at the Moscow academy
Bolshoi dreams: tradition reigns at Russian ballet school
Her ambition is to dance in Swan Lake.
“That is the holy grail for any ballerina,” Tala said.
“I’m going to continue fighting to pursue my dreams."