0:00:02 > 0:00:06ANITA RANI: BBC Young Dancer began last week with street dance.
0:00:06 > 0:00:09At the end of a closely contested Category Final...
0:00:09 > 0:00:11Jodelle Douglas.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14..21-year-old popper Jodelle Douglas was named winner,
0:00:14 > 0:00:17guaranteeing him a place in the Grand Final.
0:00:17 > 0:00:21To actually win is just a bonus, you know, it's like the cherry on top.
0:00:21 > 0:00:22So, yeah, very happy.
0:00:24 > 0:00:27Tonight, we turn the spotlight on ballet.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30It's the most demanding of professions, requiring
0:00:30 > 0:00:33a high level of technical skill and artistry.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35For one of our five category finalists,
0:00:35 > 0:00:37a place in the Grand Final
0:00:37 > 0:00:38awaits and with it,
0:00:38 > 0:00:40a chance to perform on this
0:00:40 > 0:00:42iconic stage at Sadler's Wells.
0:00:42 > 0:00:47Welcome to the Ballet Final of BBC Young Dancer 2017.
0:01:17 > 0:01:21Last summer, the UK's best young dancers aged 16 to 21 were
0:01:21 > 0:01:25invited to enter the competition in four categories - Ballet,
0:01:25 > 0:01:28Contemporary, South Asian, and Street Dance.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38In November, following a DVD audition stage,
0:01:38 > 0:01:40ten promising ballet dancers
0:01:40 > 0:01:44were selected to compete in Round 2, held at DanceEast in Ipswich.
0:01:44 > 0:01:46Their challenge,
0:01:46 > 0:01:48to impress three leading figures from the world of ballet
0:01:48 > 0:01:50in live performance.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55Internationally-renowned choreographer Ashley Page...
0:01:55 > 0:01:58I'm always a great believer in presenting yourself through
0:01:58 > 0:02:03the work, then you will show both the choreography and yourself
0:02:03 > 0:02:05in the right balance.
0:02:06 > 0:02:10..Artistic Director of Ballet Black Cassa Pancho...
0:02:10 > 0:02:12With classical ballet, there's either
0:02:12 > 0:02:16a right way of executing a turn or you're not doing it properly.
0:02:16 > 0:02:18But then on top of that, you're really looking for
0:02:18 > 0:02:21performance quality, something that really speaks to you in the
0:02:21 > 0:02:25audience, that really tells the story of the dance they're doing.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29..and founder of Ballet Cymru Darius James.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33One of my things that I look out for is personality.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36Either they can choreograph their own work or they work with
0:02:36 > 0:02:39a choreographer who can bring out the best in them.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47All the dancers were asked to perform two solos.
0:02:47 > 0:02:53At stake - five places in the BBC Young Dancer Ballet Final.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55With the people we've chosen, it should certainly be an
0:02:55 > 0:02:59exciting evening and hopefully the encouragement of getting
0:02:59 > 0:03:03through to the next stage of the competition will generate
0:03:03 > 0:03:06confidence and make them raise their game.
0:03:06 > 0:03:11APPLAUSE
0:03:11 > 0:03:16The five dancers through to the ballet final are Ryan Felix,
0:03:16 > 0:03:18a student at Elmhurst Ballet School in Birmingham.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21I'm really looking forward to the experience of performing on
0:03:21 > 0:03:23stage, in front of a lot of people.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26Also from Elmhurst and in her final year, Jade Wallace.
0:03:26 > 0:03:30It's what I love to do, so it's going to be such good fun.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32From the English National Ballet School,
0:03:32 > 0:03:34Rhys Antoni Yeomans.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37When you're on stage it just feels so natural and the adrenaline
0:03:37 > 0:03:39kicks in and it's just a beautiful feeling.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42Training at Ballet West in Scotland, Uyu Hiromoto.
0:03:42 > 0:03:47I didn't expect to go through so I'm really grateful that I got
0:03:47 > 0:03:50through and I'm really happy about it.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53And Oscar Ward, also at Ballet West.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56It was really great to hear how I've got through to the final.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59It was just... Yeah, I was really ecstatic.
0:04:04 > 0:04:10MUSIC: O Fortuna by Carl Orff
0:04:10 > 0:04:13Ballet can grab your attention and suck you in
0:04:13 > 0:04:15and you'll love it forever.
0:04:15 > 0:04:21Graceful, dramatic, magical and athletic,
0:04:21 > 0:04:25ballet continues to captivate audiences around the world.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29To an audience that has never seen ballet before, I would say,
0:04:29 > 0:04:32"Come and give it one chance.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37"At worst, you will be surprised.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40"And at best, your life will be changed forever."
0:04:42 > 0:04:45Classical ballet is based on a series of formal positions
0:04:45 > 0:04:48and gestures, and it takes years of training to achieve the
0:04:48 > 0:04:51technique required to perform at the highest level.
0:04:51 > 0:04:56What's distinctive about ballet as an art form is the extreme
0:04:56 > 0:04:59physicality, so, it's really the only form of dance where you
0:04:59 > 0:05:04will see the women en pointe, where you will see these extreme jumps.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06In classical ballets there are a lot of rules, there are a lot of
0:05:06 > 0:05:11things that you have to get right before you can start dancing really.
0:05:11 > 0:05:13Your speed, your flexibility, your strength,
0:05:13 > 0:05:16all of those things are, you know, you're working all the time.
0:05:16 > 0:05:20What it takes to be a ballerina is not perhaps the glamour or
0:05:20 > 0:05:22femininity or physique,
0:05:22 > 0:05:26I think that's all very important but I think what would supersede
0:05:26 > 0:05:32that is dedication and drive and never-ending quest to do better.
0:05:35 > 0:05:39For me what makes ballet powerful is when all of that is
0:05:39 > 0:05:44harnessed to communicate a story or an emotion to an audience.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47The technique on its own is not enough.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53As well as demonstrating their abilities in two solos,
0:05:53 > 0:05:57each of the finalists must also perform a pas de deux, a duet,
0:05:57 > 0:06:00which is at the heart of the ballet repertoire.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03For the young female dancer,
0:06:03 > 0:06:07really the most important thing is to be very reliable and she
0:06:07 > 0:06:10should be predictable in where her balance will be.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12And if she is a very good and competent dancer,
0:06:12 > 0:06:14she should be easy to partner.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18The challenge is to look after your lady, really,
0:06:18 > 0:06:22to make sure she feels comfortable and secure.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24She's out there, she's the sort of face of the two of you for
0:06:24 > 0:06:25a lot of it.
0:06:25 > 0:06:30But it's also hearing the music together, breathing together,
0:06:30 > 0:06:33just finding a connection in those moments.
0:06:35 > 0:06:37In the 21st century,
0:06:37 > 0:06:40ballet is still pushing the boundaries both physically
0:06:40 > 0:06:45and artistically, constantly looking for new ways of reinventing itself.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50All the companies in the UK and across the world are now
0:06:50 > 0:06:53having these wonderful contemporary choreographers coming
0:06:53 > 0:06:55and crossing over and working
0:06:55 > 0:06:58with the classical ballet companies and creating amazing work.
0:07:00 > 0:07:04With contemporary ballet in particular, you can't just let go of
0:07:04 > 0:07:07your classical technique and think, "Oh, I'm just going to be free."
0:07:07 > 0:07:10It looks free but it actually is not, you need to have a really
0:07:10 > 0:07:14strong classical base in order to be able to take it somewhere else.
0:07:14 > 0:07:18But it always comes back to having your technique together.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26It's early January and to prepare for their appearance in the
0:07:26 > 0:07:29Ballet Final, all five finalists are invited to
0:07:29 > 0:07:33a workshop at the Riverfront Theatre in Newport.
0:07:33 > 0:07:37It's their first chance to meet their mentors.
0:07:37 > 0:07:41Jade and Uyu will work with former Principal of The Royal Ballet
0:07:41 > 0:07:45and one of the leading ballerinas of her generation Viviana Durante.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48It's not about doing a variation better than somebody else.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50Don't think of it like that at all.
0:07:50 > 0:07:52You just do your best for what you love.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55Don't forget, it's what you're passionate about.
0:07:55 > 0:07:59You have to work really hard to achieve certain things.
0:07:59 > 0:08:01It's about the practising. It's about the hours you put in.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04You have to be devoted.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07And the three boys will be mentored by Artistic Director
0:08:07 > 0:08:09of Northern Ballet David Nixon.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12Once you get to your performance, you need to be kind of, almost
0:08:12 > 0:08:17cold about it in a certain sense, not getting emotionally involved.
0:08:17 > 0:08:22I'm here to support them. We have a lot of criticism in dance.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24It's basically how we function.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28I say to the dancers sometimes, "It's just a note and you can use it
0:08:28 > 0:08:30"or you can embrace it and really go for it."
0:08:34 > 0:08:37First to the studio is 16-year-old Ryan.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40David is keen to take a look at RIVE,
0:08:40 > 0:08:43a dance that Ryan has choreographed himself.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46Next, it's a little bit more, until you get to that final one
0:08:46 > 0:08:47that's huge.
0:08:47 > 0:08:49I said to him, "So, what's this solo about?"
0:08:49 > 0:08:52And he mentioned these four words which were - velocity,
0:08:52 > 0:08:54elevation, resistance and impact.
0:08:54 > 0:08:56You've given yourself a hard prep there, young man.
0:08:56 > 0:09:00Then all of a sudden what I'd seen started to make sense,
0:09:00 > 0:09:03but that he hadn't taken his own words and understood how
0:09:03 > 0:09:07he had choreographed it with the intention of those words.
0:09:07 > 0:09:09This isn't talking. Stand up here.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12He knows how to, kind of, get you motivated
0:09:12 > 0:09:14and to make you work harder,
0:09:14 > 0:09:17but making you feel comfortable at the same time.
0:09:17 > 0:09:19I just really enjoyed it, to be honest.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24In another studio, 19-year-old Jade is rehearsing under the
0:09:24 > 0:09:26watchful eye of Viviana.
0:09:28 > 0:09:32She's very musical. She's a very quick mover which is wonderful.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35She just needs to push herself a little bit more.
0:09:35 > 0:09:37Keep on that plie, on our supporting leg cos...
0:09:37 > 0:09:39'Viviana was so encouraging.'
0:09:39 > 0:09:42I felt like she could really see my strengths and she was really
0:09:42 > 0:09:45good at picking out what I could improve on.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48'We worked a little bit on her posture.'
0:09:48 > 0:09:50She has this very strong technique, beautiful jump.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52It's just allowing herself to go further.
0:09:52 > 0:09:54..before the big jete...
0:09:54 > 0:09:56'She made me feel quite confident really. Made me feel...'
0:09:56 > 0:09:58..special as the dancer I am, you know,
0:09:58 > 0:10:00because we're all so different.
0:10:03 > 0:10:04Good.
0:10:06 > 0:10:10Rhys is keen to work with David on his portrayal of Puck from
0:10:10 > 0:10:12A Midsummer Night's Dream.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14Quiet, shush!
0:10:14 > 0:10:16You're not shushing on the second one, you're posing.
0:10:16 > 0:10:20It allowed us to engage more in a conversation about dynamics
0:10:20 > 0:10:22and musicality and personality.
0:10:22 > 0:10:23Just slap me.
0:10:23 > 0:10:25That's not a slap.
0:10:25 > 0:10:26More.
0:10:26 > 0:10:28More.
0:10:28 > 0:10:29There!
0:10:29 > 0:10:32The most interesting thing was when he would tell me and do the movement
0:10:32 > 0:10:34I could see it and then he'd show me the movement and he didn't do it.
0:10:34 > 0:10:36I'm getting mischievous - "funny" -
0:10:36 > 0:10:39rather than mischievous - "I can also do naughty".
0:10:39 > 0:10:42He just gave me more of a way of thinking, the choreography,
0:10:42 > 0:10:46of like, the story, how I tell it, like, what I'm doing, is it working?
0:10:46 > 0:10:48Is it not working?
0:10:48 > 0:10:49There you go! That's it!
0:10:49 > 0:10:53So it's good feedback to get from someone who's done it
0:10:53 > 0:10:55in his own career.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59Uyu is working with Viviana on the Summer Fairy Solo
0:10:59 > 0:11:03from Frederick Ashton's version of Cinderella,
0:11:03 > 0:11:07a production Viviana knows well from her time with The Royal Ballet.
0:11:07 > 0:11:11We talked about how important it is for a dancer to listen to the music.
0:11:11 > 0:11:15About how it would be like a script for an actor, so therefore,
0:11:15 > 0:11:19you have to see the shades of the music and, you know, work on those.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22You know, really feel your forehead...
0:11:22 > 0:11:26She told me to, like, imagine I'm in the summer and, like,
0:11:26 > 0:11:29wiping off sweat, it's really, like, humid
0:11:29 > 0:11:32and then it's like my arm's really heavy.
0:11:33 > 0:11:35It was interesting to see her, you know, progression,
0:11:35 > 0:11:39even just in an hour, how much she was taking in. It was amazing.
0:11:39 > 0:11:40Yes.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42I was a bit nervous first but, like,
0:11:42 > 0:11:46cos of her personality, I really enjoyed it.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49In the final, Oscar will be performing the Act 3 Variation
0:11:49 > 0:11:51from Sleeping Beauty,
0:11:51 > 0:11:53and David is keen for him to stamp his own
0:11:53 > 0:11:55authority on the dance.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57It's like, somebody changes their mind halfway through
0:11:57 > 0:12:00- a sentence and you're like, "What were you talking about?"- Yeah.
0:12:00 > 0:12:01That's what you did to the audience.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03He gave me a lot of tips about certain things
0:12:03 > 0:12:04that I'm not quite clear on.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07One general thing he said is just have more confidence because
0:12:07 > 0:12:11he didn't want me to look scared, like, a rabbit in the headlights.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14I think he wanted me to just look cool and measured.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16Why so serious?
0:12:16 > 0:12:19Are you depressed on your wedding day?
0:12:19 > 0:12:22He's what I would call, as a dancer, quite loose still,
0:12:22 > 0:12:25so things aren't necessarily connected all the time.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28But he's young, so he wouldn't be reaching that point yet.
0:12:28 > 0:12:29But when you're coaching somebody,
0:12:29 > 0:12:32you're trying to get them to understand a little bit more.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35I think it's nice to have a fresh pair of eyes, like David's,
0:12:35 > 0:12:38because I've taken it away in a new perspective.
0:12:42 > 0:12:46With less than two weeks to go before the Ballet Final, the dancers
0:12:46 > 0:12:50return to their schools to put the finishing touches to their dances.
0:12:53 > 0:12:58I plan on focusing on the new aspects and the new insight I have
0:12:58 > 0:13:02and making it more of a performance and less of a technical piece.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06It takes a lot of energy to try and make it look effortless.
0:13:06 > 0:13:10You can improve a line or a slight change of direction,
0:13:10 > 0:13:12there's so much tweaking that goes into it.
0:13:13 > 0:13:17I want to keep perfecting the solo so that every time I can
0:13:17 > 0:13:21perform it I won't have to worry about the nitty-gritty stuff.
0:13:21 > 0:13:23I want it to be natural.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26Working with Vivian Durante,
0:13:26 > 0:13:29she was telling me to have more confidence,
0:13:29 > 0:13:34so I think if I could enjoy the performance I would be really happy.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38I'll be thinking of all of David's corrections and I'll be
0:13:38 > 0:13:42applying it to my rehearsals and make sure I'm mentally and
0:13:42 > 0:13:44physically prepared for the final.
0:13:51 > 0:13:56It's the end of January and after months of preparation, the day
0:13:56 > 0:13:59of the Ballet Final has arrived.
0:13:59 > 0:14:01With only a few hours to go before they perform in front of the
0:14:01 > 0:14:06judges, all five dancers go through their final rehearsals on the
0:14:06 > 0:14:08stage at the Lowry Centre in Salford.
0:14:10 > 0:14:14Keeping a close eye on the dancers, mentors David and Viviana.
0:14:16 > 0:14:18They've improved so much and I can see they've been thinking
0:14:18 > 0:14:23about all sorts of little details that I sort of suggested.
0:14:23 > 0:14:27It's one of the hardest professions because you tend to rehearse
0:14:27 > 0:14:29in one environment, like the studio,
0:14:29 > 0:14:33and then you're going on stage, where all of a sudden you have these
0:14:33 > 0:14:37lights coming from all directions and it's a challenge.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40You have mixed emotions before you go on stage.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43You know, it's exciting, it's terrifying, but you've just got
0:14:43 > 0:14:47to try and have that calm to give yourself the best possible chance.
0:14:47 > 0:14:51As soon as you step out there, that all goes away and you can
0:14:51 > 0:14:53just enjoy it.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56I'm just really excited because it means quite a lot to me.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00Being here is really kind of amplifying that and just building up
0:15:00 > 0:15:03the tension and I'm just really looking forward
0:15:03 > 0:15:05to being able to perform.
0:15:05 > 0:15:07I feel excited about this.
0:15:07 > 0:15:12It's such a great opportunity and it's always fun to perform on stage.
0:15:14 > 0:15:19Now that I'm here, my belly is doing, like, back flips.
0:15:19 > 0:15:23For me I find the pas de deux much more scary than the solo.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26Because if it goes wrong, the solo, I can cover it up,
0:15:26 > 0:15:28but with the pas de deux, if she falls
0:15:28 > 0:15:32- then I might have to fall with her! - HE CHUCKLES
0:15:32 > 0:15:35I think the most nervous moment of all of it for me
0:15:35 > 0:15:38is just when you're about to walk on stage but I get
0:15:38 > 0:15:42a lot of adrenaline from it and it takes over you completely.
0:15:42 > 0:15:46So for me it's important to just brush it aside and just breathe,
0:15:46 > 0:15:49take a few deep breaths and walk on.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51They've worked on the technique so they don't have to think about it.
0:15:51 > 0:15:55I think they can just throw it away almost and really indulge
0:15:55 > 0:15:58themselves in what they're trying to portray through dance.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08Each dancer will perform two contrasting solos
0:16:08 > 0:16:11as well as a pas de deux.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14Deciding who will win this BBC Young Dancer Ballet Final,
0:16:14 > 0:16:17three leading figures from the dance world.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22Deborah Bull is a leading figure in the arts world and
0:16:22 > 0:16:26a former principal dancer at The Royal Ballet.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28I think with dancers of this age,
0:16:28 > 0:16:30you want to see a finished technique,
0:16:30 > 0:16:34a strong performance, but I think you also want to see potential.
0:16:34 > 0:16:38Being able to test yourself in the public domain, out there on
0:16:38 > 0:16:41the stage is always what you have to try to do.
0:16:41 > 0:16:45And during your training, that doesn't happen so often, so this is,
0:16:45 > 0:16:50if you like, a stepping stone on the way to their professional career.
0:16:50 > 0:16:55Teacher and ballet master Matz Skoog is a former Artistic Director at
0:16:55 > 0:16:57English National Ballet.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00A winning performance requires a combination of things -
0:17:00 > 0:17:04a solid and good technique, a flare of performance,
0:17:04 > 0:17:09but also an indication of a potential future.
0:17:09 > 0:17:13And judging across all four dance categories Shobana Jeyasingh,
0:17:13 > 0:17:16internationally-renowned choreographer
0:17:16 > 0:17:18and Artistic Director of Shobana Jeyasingh Dance.
0:17:18 > 0:17:23The challenge, I think, in a technique like ballet is to
0:17:23 > 0:17:27show qualities of grace, of power, of control.
0:17:27 > 0:17:32So you've got to charm the audience and bring them to appreciate
0:17:32 > 0:17:35your technique but also love you as a performer.
0:17:42 > 0:17:46First to dance in this Ballet Final, 16-year-old Ryan Felix.
0:17:56 > 0:18:00I started dancing when I was two because I just really enjoyed
0:18:00 > 0:18:02the movement of it.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04I also like to watch it and go to the theatre and, like,
0:18:04 > 0:18:06seeing all the dancers and all the male roles and things.
0:18:06 > 0:18:08It was just kind of real inspiring,
0:18:08 > 0:18:11especially from quite a young age, to witness that.
0:18:13 > 0:18:17Ryan is now a full-time student at Elmhurst Valley School
0:18:17 > 0:18:18in Birmingham.
0:18:18 > 0:18:22I study English and dance for A levels.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25I find it quite easy to juggle the two because the majority of
0:18:25 > 0:18:30our day is spent dancing and we have two hours a day of academics.
0:18:30 > 0:18:34I try to keep my focus predominantly on dance because that's what
0:18:34 > 0:18:36I want to do for a career.
0:18:36 > 0:18:40Ryan's progress as a dancer is being supervised by the Director of
0:18:40 > 0:18:42the school and former principal dancer with the
0:18:42 > 0:18:45Birmingham Royal Ballet, Robert Parker.
0:18:45 > 0:18:47He's working on his line, he's working on his footwork,
0:18:47 > 0:18:51he's working on his fifth positions, all the detail and clarity,
0:18:51 > 0:18:53but also that element of performance.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56He's got a great dynamic energy.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59Now he just needs to really hone everything he's got and
0:18:59 > 0:19:01really deliver that to the audience.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04Plie, one and two, phase three and four.
0:19:04 > 0:19:07I decided to enter the BBC Young Dancer
0:19:07 > 0:19:09because I was looking at ways
0:19:09 > 0:19:12to challenge myself and to kind of gain performance experience,
0:19:12 > 0:19:14being in the kind of environment where you're
0:19:14 > 0:19:16under pressure and you have to perform.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18And I thought, well,
0:19:18 > 0:19:21this would be something I could do that would give me that challenge.
0:19:21 > 0:19:23And I'm really excited to be a part of it.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30It's exciting to be seen by people who are quite high up in the
0:19:30 > 0:19:32dance world because it means quite a lot to
0:19:32 > 0:19:34me that I've been able to get someone like this.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37So all the work that I've put in, I can show to other people.
0:19:38 > 0:19:42My classical solo is the Paquita Male Variation
0:19:42 > 0:19:43from the pas de deux.
0:19:43 > 0:19:45It's set in Spain.
0:19:45 > 0:19:49It's a kind of marriage celebration so it's happy and it's all
0:19:49 > 0:19:51about showing what you can do as the character.
0:19:53 > 0:19:57PAS DE DEUX FROM PAQUITA PLAYS
0:21:06 > 0:21:10APPLAUSE
0:21:10 > 0:21:13Ryan Felix opening the BBC Young Dancer Ballet Final.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16Next a pas de deux from the ballet Giselle,
0:21:16 > 0:21:19choreographed by Peter Wright.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22I'll be performing the Peasant pas de deux from Giselle
0:21:22 > 0:21:23with Chloe Jones.
0:21:23 > 0:21:28And it's about two peasants dancing to entertain their friends in the
0:21:28 > 0:21:30other villages and the aristocrats.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33They're happy, they're in love and it's about the kind of passion.
0:21:33 > 0:21:34It's just quite a jolly piece.
0:21:34 > 0:21:39PEASANT PAS DE DEUX FROM GISELLE PLAYS
0:22:31 > 0:22:35APPLAUSE
0:22:44 > 0:22:48To end his programme, Ryan is dancing RIVE,
0:22:48 > 0:22:50a piece that he's choreographed himself.
0:22:50 > 0:22:54HIGH-TEMPO DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS
0:24:04 > 0:24:08APPLAUSE
0:24:18 > 0:24:23I enjoyed the ease that he brought to the stage.
0:24:23 > 0:24:24I think is one to watch.
0:24:24 > 0:24:25For such a young man,
0:24:25 > 0:24:29a very masculine style of working which is attractive.
0:24:29 > 0:24:31I think he's going to do well.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34For me what stood out was his second solo.
0:24:34 > 0:24:35It was a real, sort of,
0:24:35 > 0:24:39act of courage and I was really impressed by that.
0:24:39 > 0:24:41After the first piece, the nerves were gone,
0:24:41 > 0:24:42I was just really able to enjoy.
0:24:42 > 0:24:44This is what all the work from the
0:24:44 > 0:24:46past several months has been towards.
0:24:46 > 0:24:48So it's really great that it's finally come and I've just been
0:24:48 > 0:24:50really happy with the experience.
0:24:53 > 0:24:56Like Ryan, our second dancer in this ballet final
0:24:56 > 0:24:59is a student at Elmhurst School of Ballet,
0:24:59 > 0:25:0119-year-old Jade Wallace.
0:25:06 > 0:25:09Yeah, I love it at Elmhurst. The teachers there are so supportive.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12It's such a friendly environment.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14It's really exciting, being in my final year,
0:25:14 > 0:25:17so I think we're all just making the most of the time
0:25:17 > 0:25:19we have together now.
0:25:19 > 0:25:21It's just having good fun, really,
0:25:21 > 0:25:24and training together and working towards a common goal.
0:25:24 > 0:25:27SWEEPING ORCHESTRAL SCORE
0:25:31 > 0:25:35I love ballet so much just because what you put into it,
0:25:35 > 0:25:39you can get out of it and it's just unpredictable
0:25:39 > 0:25:41and keeps you on your toes -
0:25:41 > 0:25:42pardon the pun!
0:25:44 > 0:25:46Like all of tonight's finalists,
0:25:46 > 0:25:49Jade's ambition is to join a professional ballet company.
0:25:49 > 0:25:51Now in her final year,
0:25:51 > 0:25:55she's working with former Birmingham Royal Ballet soloist Lei Zhao.
0:25:55 > 0:25:59Jade has a very special artistic quality.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01She also has very good technique,
0:26:01 > 0:26:04in terms of using her feet and legs and turnout.
0:26:06 > 0:26:08Originally from Derbyshire,
0:26:08 > 0:26:12Jade's passion for dance was a pleasant surprise for her family.
0:26:12 > 0:26:14My mum and dad are so supportive.
0:26:14 > 0:26:18I mean, we've not had any dance in the family, so this is new for them.
0:26:18 > 0:26:20We don't know where she gets her talent from at all,
0:26:20 > 0:26:22cos your experience of dancing
0:26:22 > 0:26:25is probably Friday and Saturday night
0:26:25 > 0:26:26down the Pink Coconut in Derby,
0:26:26 > 0:26:28dancing round your handbag
0:26:28 > 0:26:30and I was brought up on punk rock,
0:26:30 > 0:26:33so I can pogo a bit and that's about it.
0:26:33 > 0:26:37So no ballet. A bit of a mystery where it's come from, really.
0:26:39 > 0:26:41Just before I go on stage,
0:26:41 > 0:26:44my heart's absolutely beating out of my chest.
0:26:44 > 0:26:47It's that sort of fight-or-flight reaction
0:26:47 > 0:26:50but you just take a deep breath, go out on stage.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53That's what's so special about it.
0:26:53 > 0:26:57To open her programme, Jade dances Gamzatti's Variation
0:26:57 > 0:27:00from La Bayadere, choreographed by Natalia Makarova.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41APPLAUSE
0:27:47 > 0:27:51My pas de deux is grand pas de deux from the ballet Le Corsaire.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54It's a fairly romantic pas de deux,
0:27:54 > 0:27:58so it's nice and soft and slow and lyrical
0:27:58 > 0:28:01and again it gives you a chance to be really lush with your movements
0:28:01 > 0:28:03and to show the connection with your partner.
0:29:25 > 0:29:27APPLAUSE
0:29:35 > 0:29:38My second solo I choreographed myself
0:29:38 > 0:29:42and I'm actually portraying the character of a 1950s secretary,
0:29:42 > 0:29:46so you'll see me wearing my glasses and my office dress
0:29:46 > 0:29:49and it's supposed to be just a real cheeky, fun number.
0:29:49 > 0:29:52It's still got some classical technique in there,
0:29:52 > 0:29:55but it's a real fun piece.
0:29:55 > 0:29:58FAST-PACED ORCHESTRAL SCORE
0:29:58 > 0:30:01TYPEWRITER CLACKS AND PINGS
0:31:31 > 0:31:35For me, Jade was very strong in the Corsaire pas de deux,
0:31:35 > 0:31:37gave a really confident performance.
0:31:37 > 0:31:41She filled the stage, and then in the final piece,
0:31:41 > 0:31:43she really came alive.
0:31:43 > 0:31:45The item that stuck with me was her second solo,
0:31:45 > 0:31:47taking a technique like ballet
0:31:47 > 0:31:49and then using it to make this portrait
0:31:49 > 0:31:51of a very contemporary character.
0:31:51 > 0:31:54I think the highlight for me was the pas de deux.
0:31:54 > 0:31:57I felt like we created an atmosphere when we were on stage
0:31:57 > 0:31:59and it was nice to have company out there, yeah.
0:32:03 > 0:32:05Still to come in this ballet final,
0:32:05 > 0:32:08two students from Ballet West in Scotland,
0:32:08 > 0:32:11Oscar Ward and Uyu Hiromoto.
0:32:11 > 0:32:14First, 18-year-old Rhys Antoni Yeomans.
0:32:23 > 0:32:26Training full-time at the English National Ballet School,
0:32:26 > 0:32:28Rhys was inspired to take up ballet
0:32:28 > 0:32:31after seeing the stage show Billy Elliot.
0:32:31 > 0:32:34Instantly, from watching the show, I fell in love with ballet,
0:32:34 > 0:32:38so from there I started dancing and then a few months later,
0:32:38 > 0:32:40I auditioned for the show
0:32:40 > 0:32:43and was chosen to play the role.
0:32:43 > 0:32:45I gained so much experience from performing
0:32:45 > 0:32:48and just my passion for dance grew even more.
0:32:48 > 0:32:51After starring as Billy Elliot for two years,
0:32:51 > 0:32:54Rhys was determined to pursue a career in ballet.
0:32:54 > 0:32:56He's now blossoming under the watchful eye
0:32:56 > 0:32:59of the school's director of dance, Samira Saidi.
0:32:59 > 0:33:03When Rhys arrived, I think probably because of the Billy Elliot aspect,
0:33:03 > 0:33:10he was a little bit perhaps raw in his ability to refine his technique,
0:33:10 > 0:33:12a certain elegance was missing
0:33:12 > 0:33:15and I think they're the things we've really worked on,
0:33:15 > 0:33:20because elegance and line is what singles out classical dancing
0:33:20 > 0:33:21from other dancing,
0:33:21 > 0:33:25so he's really beginning now to reap those benefits.
0:33:28 > 0:33:29Over the Christmas period,
0:33:29 > 0:33:33Rhys has his first taste of working with a professional ballet company,
0:33:33 > 0:33:37with a small role in English National Ballet's Nutcracker
0:33:37 > 0:33:38at the London Coliseum.
0:33:38 > 0:33:42Being at the Coliseum, it's one of the most beautiful stages in London
0:33:42 > 0:33:45and to be able to work with a professional company
0:33:45 > 0:33:48like English National Ballet, it's such a dream come true.
0:33:48 > 0:33:53It's a tough, intense few weeks of performing, but it gives me a taster
0:33:53 > 0:33:56of what it's like to perform in a professional company.
0:33:58 > 0:34:01So today I'm one of the rats in the piece
0:34:01 > 0:34:02and this is quite exciting,
0:34:02 > 0:34:05because not many students get the opportunity to perform other roles,
0:34:05 > 0:34:09so it's a good tester for me to be able to push myself
0:34:09 > 0:34:13and see if I can do more types of characters and styles.
0:34:18 > 0:34:21My classical piece is James from La Sylphide
0:34:21 > 0:34:24and it's a very demanding solo.
0:34:25 > 0:34:29The character is very flirtatious and very confident
0:34:29 > 0:34:30and he demands the stage.
0:35:22 > 0:35:25Rhys Antoni Yeomans opening his programme
0:35:25 > 0:35:28with the James Variation from La Sylphide.
0:35:28 > 0:35:30Next, the Satanella pas de deux,
0:35:30 > 0:35:32choreographed by Marius Petipa.
0:35:32 > 0:35:36This pas de deux is really cheeky and playful
0:35:36 > 0:35:38and just listen to the music.
0:35:38 > 0:35:41It gives you a happy feeling inside
0:35:41 > 0:35:45and I feel like it's a really good duet for the audience,
0:35:45 > 0:35:49it's just amazing to watch and it's so technically challenging.
0:37:00 > 0:37:04To end his programme, Rhys is performing a new dance
0:37:04 > 0:37:07specially choreographed for him by Daniel Myers,
0:37:07 > 0:37:10inspired by the character Puck from A Midsummer Night's Dream.
0:37:12 > 0:37:14FLUTE AND PERCUSSION
0:39:00 > 0:39:03APPLAUSE
0:39:08 > 0:39:11Former Billy Elliot star Rhys Antoni Yeomans.
0:39:11 > 0:39:15You can watch all of tonight's performances in full on our website.
0:39:18 > 0:39:20Rhys is a strong character.
0:39:20 > 0:39:24He has a broad range of styles that he can work in
0:39:24 > 0:39:29and natural stage charm and presence.
0:39:29 > 0:39:32Rhys had chosen his repertoire extremely well.
0:39:32 > 0:39:34The first solo, the James solo from La Sylphide,
0:39:34 > 0:39:38suited him perfectly and he did it really beautifully.
0:39:38 > 0:39:41I'd like to see him extend his range even more
0:39:41 > 0:39:42to see what else he could do.
0:39:42 > 0:39:45There's clearly so much talent there.
0:39:45 > 0:39:46The evening went amazing.
0:39:46 > 0:39:49Just to perform and get out there
0:39:49 > 0:39:51and do what I've been working so hard for
0:39:51 > 0:39:55is just amazing, so I'm so happy with how it went.
0:39:55 > 0:39:58Just looking forward to hear about the results.
0:40:02 > 0:40:06Next to dance, 19-year-old Uyu Hiromoto.
0:40:11 > 0:40:12BAGPIPE MUSIC
0:40:15 > 0:40:18Now a student at the Ballet West school in the Scottish Highlands,
0:40:18 > 0:40:21Uyu hails from Yokohama in Japan.
0:40:23 > 0:40:26I always wanted to learn ballet in the UK,
0:40:26 > 0:40:30cos UK is one of the big ballet countries.
0:40:30 > 0:40:36When I first came here, I could speak English, but barely,
0:40:36 > 0:40:40so my friends around me helped me always and I'm really grateful
0:40:40 > 0:40:44that I've got so many friends who helped me.
0:40:46 > 0:40:50It takes a lot of courage, I think, to up and leave Japan
0:40:50 > 0:40:52and come all the way to the Highlands of Scotland.
0:40:52 > 0:40:56It's quite a contrast and since coming, she's just embraced
0:40:56 > 0:41:00the whole culture here and she's just fitted in with everybody.
0:41:00 > 0:41:04Her English is really quite good now.
0:41:04 > 0:41:06I obviously miss home,
0:41:06 > 0:41:10but at the same time, I like being here with friends.
0:41:10 > 0:41:13Friends are like my second family.
0:41:17 > 0:41:19The first three, nice, clean 90
0:41:19 > 0:41:23and then the last one you can go a little bit more.
0:41:23 > 0:41:27Since Uyu started training with us, we've seen a big development in her.
0:41:27 > 0:41:31For Uyu, the BBC Young Dancer competition is going to give her
0:41:31 > 0:41:34the experience of the competition world,
0:41:34 > 0:41:35working with other dancers.
0:41:35 > 0:41:37I think she has a very strong nerve,
0:41:37 > 0:41:40so I don't think the pressure will be too much for her.
0:41:40 > 0:41:43I think she's quite accustomed to that
0:41:43 > 0:41:46and will be able to hold her own on that stage.
0:41:48 > 0:41:50It's really great,
0:41:50 > 0:41:53cos I've never done a competition like BBC Young Dancer,
0:41:53 > 0:41:56I've never taken an interview like this before.
0:41:58 > 0:42:03I think it's a really good opportunity for me to grow up
0:42:03 > 0:42:06to the next level as a dancer as well.
0:42:13 > 0:42:18I feel quite prepared for this, cos I've been practising for so long
0:42:18 > 0:42:21and, yeah, I'm really excited today.
0:42:21 > 0:42:23A bit nervous, but, yeah, really excited.
0:42:26 > 0:42:30Uyu begins her programme with the Summer Fairy from Cinderella,
0:42:30 > 0:42:33choreographed by Frederick Ashton.
0:42:33 > 0:42:36It's kind of slow and calm music
0:42:36 > 0:42:40and the dance is slow and calm as well. It's beautiful.
0:44:46 > 0:44:48APPLAUSE
0:44:48 > 0:44:51Uyu's partner for her pas de deux is Oscar,
0:44:51 > 0:44:54the final competitor in this ballet final
0:44:54 > 0:44:57and we'll see their performance later in the programme.
0:44:57 > 0:45:00For her second solo, she's dancing a piece titled Sand,
0:45:00 > 0:45:03which has been specially choreographed for her
0:45:03 > 0:45:04by Yoshiki Noborisaka.
0:45:04 > 0:45:11I'm going to do more sharp movements and more animalistic movements.
0:45:11 > 0:45:15It's not scary, but it's kind of that idea.
0:45:18 > 0:45:20HARD PERCUSSION
0:46:29 > 0:46:32APPLAUSE
0:46:45 > 0:46:48She had a lovely stage presence.
0:46:48 > 0:46:52She created this aura of grace and of femininity.
0:46:52 > 0:46:57She really engaged with the audience and drew you in.
0:46:57 > 0:47:00Her last piece in the black was extremely striking.
0:47:00 > 0:47:02She's a very strong physical presence.
0:47:02 > 0:47:04She's happy to look the audience in the eye
0:47:04 > 0:47:08and she really took the chance to do that within the last solo.
0:47:08 > 0:47:11I think I am quite happy how it went.
0:47:11 > 0:47:13I don't mean like everything went really well,
0:47:13 > 0:47:15but I really enjoyed the moments on stage
0:47:15 > 0:47:17and, yeah, it was really good.
0:47:21 > 0:47:25To end this ballet final, 18-year-old Oscar Ward,
0:47:25 > 0:47:26also a student at Ballet West.
0:47:33 > 0:47:34Originally from Nottingham,
0:47:34 > 0:47:37dance has always been a major part of Oscar's life.
0:47:39 > 0:47:41I think I was three years old
0:47:41 > 0:47:44and my mum took me dancing because I couldn't stop fidgeting
0:47:44 > 0:47:48and I think she wanted something to kind of tame that.
0:47:48 > 0:47:52She asked me if I wanted to do dance classes and I was like, "Yeah!"
0:47:52 > 0:47:53I was really up for it.
0:47:53 > 0:47:57So I went along and it never really stopped, to be honest.
0:47:57 > 0:48:01I think you get to a point when you want to carry on doing it always.
0:48:01 > 0:48:03- ALL:- Hi!
0:48:03 > 0:48:05One of Oscar's earliest dance teachers
0:48:05 > 0:48:08was Helen Taylor at Leonard Dance School.
0:48:08 > 0:48:10He was always so keen.
0:48:10 > 0:48:13I've never had a child that was so keen
0:48:13 > 0:48:16and he could talk about anything to do with ballet.
0:48:16 > 0:48:19While he was talking, he was dancing.
0:48:19 > 0:48:21He literally danced the whole time.
0:48:21 > 0:48:26He couldn't keep still and he's done just so well, I'm so proud of him.
0:48:31 > 0:48:34Oscar is now in his final year at Ballet West
0:48:34 > 0:48:36in the Scottish Highlands.
0:48:36 > 0:48:38Up here, Ballet West is just another world.
0:48:38 > 0:48:41I'm not sure if the countryside gives me an inspiration,
0:48:41 > 0:48:44but I think the fact that you get close to everyone so quick,
0:48:44 > 0:48:45because you're not in a city,
0:48:45 > 0:48:48you get to know everyone and that keeps me inspired
0:48:48 > 0:48:50and it just keep me, you know, going.
0:48:52 > 0:48:54SWEEPING ORCHESTRAL SCORE
0:48:54 > 0:48:57One of the pieces Oscar will be dancing in the final
0:48:57 > 0:49:01was specially choreographed for him by Natasha Watson.
0:49:01 > 0:49:02Natasha knows how I dance,
0:49:02 > 0:49:04so she knows what my strengths are
0:49:04 > 0:49:07and she's very skilled at choreographing,
0:49:07 > 0:49:09so it was just lots of fun to make it.
0:49:09 > 0:49:10She asked for my input,
0:49:10 > 0:49:13I gave my response back, we invented things together,
0:49:13 > 0:49:15it was really interesting.
0:49:15 > 0:49:18I like the idea that the energy goes...
0:49:18 > 0:49:23That love for the audience, to feel the intensity behind the piece,
0:49:23 > 0:49:26so to go through, we like to break it down, each section,
0:49:26 > 0:49:28really discuss why we're doing it,
0:49:28 > 0:49:32give imagery, ideas into how to be moving.
0:49:32 > 0:49:35And he's great - we come back the next day and it's much better.
0:49:38 > 0:49:39I do take it seriously,
0:49:39 > 0:49:43but I think people forget that we do dance because we love to do it.
0:49:43 > 0:49:45It's not all serious all the time.
0:49:45 > 0:49:46Yeah, there's fun with it too.
0:49:55 > 0:49:58I'm a bit nervous. I'm very nervous.
0:49:58 > 0:49:59I think nerves is always good,
0:49:59 > 0:50:03but I think for me, I've just got to keep calm, relaxed, collected,
0:50:03 > 0:50:06cos I tend to get quite worked up and I tend to get quite stressed.
0:50:08 > 0:50:12My classical piece is The Sleeping Beauty, Act III,
0:50:12 > 0:50:15so I'm embodying a prince, I've got to look smug, confident,
0:50:15 > 0:50:17almost cocky.
0:50:17 > 0:50:20It's a very full-on solo, but I've just got to own it, in a sense.
0:50:20 > 0:50:24I've just got to take complete control and just go for it.
0:50:24 > 0:50:27MUSIC: The Sleeping Beauty by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
0:51:24 > 0:51:25APPLAUSE
0:51:36 > 0:51:40Oscar's partner for his pas de deux is fellow finalist Uyu Hiromoto.
0:51:40 > 0:51:43Both dancers are judged on this performance
0:51:43 > 0:51:45of the Harlequinade pas de deux.
0:51:45 > 0:51:50The idea behind it is that I'm a harlequin boy and Uyu,
0:51:50 > 0:51:54she's a rich man's daughter, we're destined to be married,
0:51:54 > 0:51:57against all the odds, kind of like a Romeo & Juliet, if you want,
0:51:57 > 0:52:00but there's still an element of humour.
0:52:00 > 0:52:03The difference working with a partner is, like,
0:52:03 > 0:52:07you can't think about just yourself.
0:52:07 > 0:52:09You need to think about the other
0:52:09 > 0:52:12and you need to really communicate to each other.
0:52:15 > 0:52:17GENTLE ORCHESTRAL SCORE
0:53:19 > 0:53:22APPLAUSE
0:53:29 > 0:53:33To end his programme and to close this ballet final,
0:53:33 > 0:53:35Oscar will dance the piece choreographed for him
0:53:35 > 0:53:38by Natasha Watson, Oblique.
0:53:42 > 0:53:46DELICATE ORCHESTRAL SCORE
0:54:40 > 0:54:42APPLAUSE
0:54:55 > 0:54:57Oscar came into his own,
0:54:57 > 0:55:00particularly in the last number he performed tonight.
0:55:00 > 0:55:05He's got the potential to go a lot further with his technique.
0:55:06 > 0:55:09He showed great clarity and precision,
0:55:09 > 0:55:12with a great fluidity of the upper body
0:55:12 > 0:55:14and seemed to have a real aptitude
0:55:14 > 0:55:17for quite an unusual, distinctive style of movement.
0:55:18 > 0:55:21It went well. There were no major hiccups.
0:55:21 > 0:55:24In general, I'm more happy than disappointed.
0:55:24 > 0:55:28It's nice, cos I can go home and say that I've done myself proud, so...
0:55:30 > 0:55:35Oscar Ward bringing this BBC Young Dancer ballet final to a close.
0:55:35 > 0:55:37If you want to watch tonight's performances in full,
0:55:37 > 0:55:39then visit our website...
0:55:43 > 0:55:45Before we find out the result,
0:55:45 > 0:55:48a quick reminder of all tonight's finalists.
0:55:48 > 0:55:51I was just really amazed and really impressed
0:55:51 > 0:55:53by the degree of concentration
0:55:53 > 0:55:56and care that these young dancers brought
0:55:56 > 0:55:58to the stage this evening.
0:55:58 > 0:56:02I thought the standard was very good and was very even.
0:56:02 > 0:56:06One of the benefits of being part of any competition is to be seen
0:56:06 > 0:56:10and perhaps this is the forum where they will be noticed.
0:56:10 > 0:56:12Of course, there's always nerves in a live performance,
0:56:12 > 0:56:15but actually, overall, you could tell
0:56:15 > 0:56:17they were very carefully rehearsed,
0:56:17 > 0:56:19they'd put in a lot of effort and it paid off.
0:56:22 > 0:56:24To announce the winner and the dancer
0:56:24 > 0:56:28going through to the grand final, Deborah Bull.
0:56:28 > 0:56:30Each of the finalists we saw this evening
0:56:30 > 0:56:34had something really distinctive to offer in their performance.
0:56:34 > 0:56:36I am delighted to announce
0:56:36 > 0:56:42that the winner of the BBC Young Dancer 2017 ballet final is...
0:56:43 > 0:56:45..Rhys Antoni Yeomans.
0:56:45 > 0:56:46CHEERING
0:57:07 > 0:57:11Rhys was incredibly consistent throughout the evening.
0:57:11 > 0:57:15He has a very strong technique, which doesn't constrain him.
0:57:15 > 0:57:20He plays with the musicality, he plays with the performance
0:57:20 > 0:57:22and he had a really good night.
0:57:23 > 0:57:26Rhys stood out as the overall winner, I think,
0:57:26 > 0:57:28for putting a charming stage personality
0:57:28 > 0:57:31together with a very capable technique.
0:57:31 > 0:57:34Rhys was in command of his material.
0:57:34 > 0:57:37He was able to show us himself as a performer
0:57:37 > 0:57:40and an artist first and foremost.
0:57:40 > 0:57:41FAMILY MEMBERS WHOOP
0:57:41 > 0:57:43I can't believe it.
0:57:43 > 0:57:46I just won the BBC Young Dancer ballet category final.
0:57:46 > 0:57:49I'm just over the moon. I'm so shocked.
0:57:52 > 0:57:55All the hard work, I feel like it paid off.
0:57:55 > 0:57:56Well, it kind of did,
0:57:56 > 0:57:57so I'm really happy.
0:58:00 > 0:58:02Many congratulations to Rhys.
0:58:02 > 0:58:05Next week, it's all about South Asian dance,
0:58:05 > 0:58:08when five young dancers will be out to impress our jury
0:58:08 > 0:58:10to win their place alongside Rhys
0:58:10 > 0:58:14and street dancer Jodelle Douglas in the grand final
0:58:14 > 0:58:16of BBC Young Dancer 2017.
0:58:18 > 0:58:21What I'm looking for is their heart dancing with their body.
0:58:21 > 0:58:24I always focus on vigorous aspects
0:58:24 > 0:58:27such as double spins in the air, knee spins.
0:58:27 > 0:58:30For me to get through to the grand finals would mean the world.
0:58:30 > 0:58:31That is my aim.
0:58:31 > 0:58:34I especially love storytelling.
0:58:34 > 0:58:38You go on stage and you become whoever you want to be.
0:58:38 > 0:58:40It's where I can come out the most
0:58:40 > 0:58:42and express my inner feelings.
0:58:42 > 0:58:45I've just never considered not dancing.
0:58:45 > 0:58:52The winner of the BBC Young Dancer 2017 South Asian dance final is...