A young dancer from West Somerset is thrilled to be through to the finals of a national dance championship, and will be coached by top industry professionals before dancing at the Royal Opera House in front of judges in September.

Noah Morgan, 15, who lives near Bishop’s Lydeard, heard recently he will be in the finals of the UK Young Dancer Theatre competition, and will receive coaching for this from both world-renowned choreographer and theatre director Dame Arlene Phillips, and Leanne Benjamin, OBE, a former top Royal Ballet dancer and now international coach.

Noah also took part in the international Dance World Cup in Dublin recently, and won second place in the Team England results. Now he has a busy summer ahead - taking the lead role in a two-week UK tour with dance theatre company Project Dance, and entering the All England Finals in Eastbourne.

The finals at the Royal Opera House will involve both set pieces and solos, and with his dance schools closed for the summer, Noah will be practising on his own after he receives coaching from the industry professionals.

“You can’t be too prepared. I will practise in my bedroom and go over and over the choreography,” said Noah, who also said he was “very excited” about all that is happening.

“Even though his dance classes have stopped for the summer, it’s relentless, he’s very driven,” said his mother and number one supporter, Lucy Campbell-Morgan, although she says it is important that he also sees friends and strikes a balance between pursuing dance to a high degree and having his childhood.

Noah, who will be going into Year 11 at Kingsmead School in September, plans to get his A levels at Richard Huish College after that, and go on to dance college.