Barnsley ballerina Tala Lee Turton is about to become only the ninth British dancer to be given a place at the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet Academy.
Now three years into her four-year placement, the 19-year-old has earned the privilege of performing at the internationally-famed Bolshoi Theatre.
The teenager has lived and breathed ballet since she was a youngster and her ambitions to be the best have meant sacrifices and following a strict regime.
At the academy her weekly timetable is made up of classes in gymnastics, character, historical dance, make-up, modern dance, acting, repertoire and pointe work - the act of standing on the tips of the toes.
Also slotted in are Russian language and other academic classes.
"Ballet is where you're constantly criticised for the way you look. Teachers look at you objectively and tell you you need to lose this muscle, or slim down, so you have to be thick-skinned," Tala said.
"There is so much training involved and I don't think a lot of people realise how much repetition there is."
"You are hammering something out in the studio for a long time before it looks beautiful on stage."
She has trained with teachers from the best ballet companies worldwide such as the New York City Ballet and the English National Ballet.
Currently back home in Barnsley on her summer break, Tala is hoping to inspire other young dancers by holding a series of master classes at her first dance school, Fearons Middleton School of Dance in Barnsley.
When she returns to the academy in September, Tala will begin her final year before becoming the third female British ballerina to graduate.
Much of her fourth year will be spent travelling across Europe for auditions in the hope of joining a ballet company.
Her ultimate dream is to dance the role of Odette in the ballet classic Swan Lake considered "the holy grail for any ballerina."
She added: "I've fought my way to the Bolshoi so I'm going to continue fighting to pursue my dreams."
?BBC