A group of ballet dancers are celebrating success in their recent Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) examinations this summer.

Students from the Travis Academy of Performing Arts (TAPA) in Chester excelled in the exams, with several awarded Distinction and High Merit. The prestigious exams were organised by local ballet teacher Kathryn Travis, who runs RAD ballet classes at the Upton-by-Chester Village Hall.

The group which included: Aurora Navas, Isobel Dunne, Oriana Navas, Rose Levitt, Anna Clough, Isabelle Wilkinson and Anneliese Lea, were pictured receiving their awards.

Some of the dancers have been dancing together for many years, such as Aurora Navas, 19, and Anna Clough, 17, who have attended TAPA for over 14 years. Both achieved excellent results in their professional level examination with RAD Intermediate.

10-year-old Oriana Nava was awarded Distinction for her Grade 3 Solo Performance Award and has been offered a place on the Hammond Associates Theatre Arts Programme at Hammond School.

Kathryn Travis said: "I am immensely proud of my pupils and feel very blessed to have the opportunity to teach this wonderful art form to such talented and dedicated students, many of whom have been dancing with me since they were in pre-school!

"They have grown up with my own children and we are like a family. Some of them will be heading off to university this year and saying goodbye has been very emotional for us all.

"This particular exam session was an extra special moment as both of my daughters, Aurora and Oriana Navas were among the candidates.

"Aurora took her first ballet steps with me toddling around our lounge ‘en demi-pointe’, and, now aged 19, has been dancing with me for over 16 years and has reached professional level.

"Oriana was awarded Distinction for her Solo Performance Award and I am incredibly proud of them both."