Hoylake School of Dance student success

Aly Goodchild and Lily-Rose Jackson, from Greasby have been dancing at Hoylake School of Dance since they were three and four years old.

Now both aged 11, Aly has accepted an offer at London Ballet School while Lily-Rose has been offered places at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts, The Hammond School, and Moorland School.

Aly outside of Richmond gates

Susan Goodchild, Aly’s Mum, said: “Before Aly started dance classes he used to dance in front of the TV and copy what the ballerinas were doing.

“Now his dream of attending White Lodge at Richmond Park with the Royal Ballet has come true!”

Lily-Rose ready for audition

As well as attending dance classes every night after school both Lily and Aly were Junior Associates at the Royal Ballet for three years which helped to prepare them for auditions.

Lily-Rose’s Mum, Emma Jackson, said: “She has wanted to dance her whole life and has worked so hard for it so when she found out she’d been accepted she was absolutely overjoyed.”

Aly Goodchild

Usually only between 12 and 15 boys and girls are selected to be offered places at the schools meaning both Aly and Lily-Rose had to go through rigorous audition processes with multiple stages before being offered places at their dream dance schools.

Now both will start their new dance journeys in September.

Lily-Rose Jackson

Susan said: “Aly takes it all in his stride. He is confident, very social, and just loves ballet.

“He was so impressed to get to go to this place which he had heard about and wanted to go to for so long.

Emma said: “We are so proud it’s a massive thing just to even go for auditions at this age at such prestigious dance schools.

“She’s 100% dedicated to it so it’s a really lovely thing.”