THREE talented ballerinas who attend an Old Hill dance school have passed one of the most prestigious exams in the discipline.

Jessica Williams and sisters Grace and Abigail Edmonds, who train at Debonair Dance Academy based at Temple Meadow Primary School, passed their advanced ballet exam.

Jessica and Grace passed with honours while Abigail was highly commended.

The talented trio will be awarded their certificates at the school in Wrights Lane on Saturday (September 8).

Academy principal Debbie Baggot said: “To even pass the exam is incredible, but to get those marks is just overwhelming.

“It’s very intense and means they are good enough to get into a ballet company.

”It’s an outstanding achievement.”

Debbie said Jessica and Abigail, both 18 and Grace who is 17, all plan to train to become ballet teachers.

She said the teenagers help her every Saturday training children in ballet.

And the dance academy has further reason to celebrate as former pupil Ben Brown who beat competition from boys from all over the world to win a place at the Royal Ballet school in Surrey has won a place at St Bedes School in Eastbourne to continue his studies.

Debbie, who just missed out on a place at the Royal Ballet as a youngster, said: “It’s fantastic.

“It’s like seeing my dream lived through his eyes.”

Ben, aged 16, from Amblecote, trained at Debonair till he was ten.