A BUDDING ballet star from Melrose is urging fellow dancers from the Borders to pull on their tutus and tights for an upcoming audition.

Sophie McGarry, who recently turned 14, has already caught the eye of mentor Peter Schaufuss.

The Olivier Award-winning dance legend has recently established the world-class training academy, Edinburgh Festival Ballet School ,in the capital’s New Town.

And he is hoping that the region will deliver more bright prospects.

Sophie is already relishing the opportunity to be a part of the school - a role she fits around her studies at Earlston High School.

Auditions take place on Saturday (January 18) for a limited number of coveted places to study from September.

The former Parkside and Melrose Primary pupil told us: "To anyone who is keen to learn in ballet, I’d say ‘go for it’.

"It’s a really amazing experience, and I feel like I’ve grown a lot.

"You have to be very committed to attend weekend classes for hours, but Edinburgh Festival Ballet School has helped me improve a lot in the last few months.

"They give you room to build your style of dancing and to show your personality.

"My main tutor is school principal Johan Christensen and I’ve been taught by Peter Schaufuss himself a few times, which was a big privilege.

"I’d love to carry on at the part-time school for a couple of years, and it would be pretty cool to be part of a Peter Schaufuss full-time school after that."

Peter Schaufuss famously founded the English National Ballet in 1988 and has, in a stellar career, performed and directed all over the world.

He hopes the upcoming auditions will unveil more talented dancers to follow in Sophie's ballet shoes.

Peter said: “Edinburgh Festival Ballet School provides a place where some of the finest young performers in Scotland can go to obtain a professional full-time dance education while living and training in Edinburgh.

"I wanted to pass on what I have learnt through all my years of experience in the dance world and we have been delighted with the success of the pilot course run in the past year.

"I’ve been heartened to witness first-hand the progress of our full-time cohort and younger part-time dancers.

“We are auditioning for places on our full-time school and our part-time school so there are opportunities for both experienced students who are already on the way to making a career as a dancer, as well as those who have raw talent and the desire to succeed but only basic experience of ballet.”

There will be 20 places up for grabs during Saturday's auditions.

Open to youngsters aged 12 and over, to book a place for Saturday email administrator Lee Walls at lee@rosetheatreedinburgh.com