Young dancers in Hampshire can apply for up to #163;500 to be spent on tuition to improve the chances of turning their passion into a career.

The council is inviting dancers aged 13 to 18 to apply for the Springboard funding by September 25. Auditions will be held on October 24.

The bursaries are run by the county council in partnership with Hampshire Dance, the regional dance agency. There are 15 awards available this year following a trial run last year that gave four young people the chance to benefit from the bursaries.

Those who receive the awards are given guidance from an expert to discover what their training needs are and what opportunities are available.

Krysia Bedford, 19, was one of the recipients. She had already studied ballet and contemporary dance and used her award to pay for regular pilates and yoga classes to improve her flexibility and stamina - something she initially thought she would hate.

But she says it has improved her fitness. Krysia also attended workshops in Irish dancing and hip-hop, as well as two dance summer schools.

The bursaries are open to Hampshire residents, although not to those living in Portsmouth or Southampton. HW

For more information email: arts.office@hants.gov.uk.