Young ballet dancers were flying high with lessons from a professional. Pupils at Carlisle-based Cumbria Dance enjoyed classes from Jenny Fallon, a recently retired dancer who performed for companies including English National Ballet.

Jenny held two workshops at Cumbria Dance’s studio in Atlas Works, Denton Holme.

The morning session was for pupils aged eight to 11. The afternoon class was for students aged up to 17.

Rachel Gordon, Cumbria Dance’s principal, said: “It went really well. The younger ones learned a solo from Angelina Ballerina [a children’s TV series about a ballet dancing mouse].

“The older ones started with some body conditioning. They did feet exercises for point work, which is coming up for some of them.

“Then they did a scene from Swan Lake. They had to keep in lines as the corps de ballet.”

Rachel says the young pupils - 21 of them in the younger class and 11 in the older one - were excited.

“It was very special. You could see from their faces. It was obvious that the children were really focused and listening. They embraced the opportunity to learn from a professional dancer and learn dances from real ballets.

“I’ve got a high-level teaching qualification myself. But it’s different having someone else working with you. That will help in the future if they want to audition, to be working with people they aren’t used to working with.

“Parents came in at the end so they could see what their children had been learning. It’s lovely to see your own child performing new steps.”

Rachel met Jenny on a teaching course at Jenny’s ballet school in Glasgow. “I was very impressed by her dancing. She’s a lovely person.”

Cumbria Dance specialises in ballet and organises trips to see live ballets at the Sands Centre. Its pupils range from two-and-a-half to adults. Most are female. “I teach four boys,” says Rachel. “I’d love some more. There’s still a bit of stigma but it’s getting better.”